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THE 

YELLOW JACKET 

A Chinese Play Done in a Chinese Manner 
IN THREE ACTS 



By "I 

GEORGE C. HAZELTON AND BENRIMO 



ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS 
BY ARNOLD GENTHE 



E'very man must look into the Garden of his soul alone. — Act III 



INDIANAPOLIS 

THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 



Copyright 1913 
George C. Hazelton, Jr., and J. Harry Benrimo 

Protected in all ioreign coontries 

and all rights, including: acting, moving picture and publication. 

reserved by the authors 






PRESS OF 

BRAUNWORTH & CO. 

BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS 

BROOKLYN, N. Y. 



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C1.D 33231 



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To 
B. C. H. AND K. E. B. 



FOREWORD 

The purpose of the creators of this play is to 
string on a thread of universal philosophy, love and 
laughter the jade beads of Chinese theatrical con- 
vention. Their effort has been to reflect the spirit 
rather than the substance. To do this, the property 
man had to be overwrought ; the Chorus had to be 
introduced. Signs usually indicate the scenes on the 
Oriental stage ; the Chorus voices them for us. 

While the story of The Yellow Jacket is not 
taken from any direct source, it is hoped that it may 
convey an imaginative suggestion of all sources and 
reflect the childhood of drama. 

It might be said in a Chinese way that scenery is 
as big as your imagination. 

Primitive people the world over begin to build 
their drama like the make-believe of children, and 
the closer they remain to the make-believe of chil- 
dren the more significant and convincing is the 

growth of their drama. 

The Authors. 



TO THE POETS 

To these you have restored their heritage : 
To humor — loveliness ; to undefiled 

Passion — its splendor ; to our native stage 
Enchantment and the rapture of a child, 

Percy Mackaye. 



INTRODUCTION 

It is with pleasure that I accept the invitation of 
the authors of The Yellow Jacket to say a few 
words by way of prologue to their play. In more 
than forty years of play-going, I have seen few per- 
formances as interesting as that to which they in- 
vited me. And the interest of this performance is 
twofold. It is due, first of all, to the charm of the 
Oriental tale they have transplanted to our Occi- 
dental stage and to the delicate art with which they 
have brought before us the manners and customs of 
a race strangely unlike ourselves. Secondly, the play 
is presented, not in accord with the methods familiar 
nowadays in our own theaters, but in accord with 
the methods characteristic of the Chinese theater 
and therefore unfamiliar to us. 

The story of the play is often beautiful in its sev- 
eral episodes, now poetic, now pathetic and again 
fantastic. It sets before us the everlasting appeal of 
maternal self-sacrifice; and it presents the always- 
sympathetic figure of the rightful heir recovering 
his place by his own powers. It is a story as old as 
the hills and as young as the spring-time; and in 
The Yellow Jacket it is interpreted with imagina- 
tion and embroidered with fancy. 

Interesting as the tale may be in itself, it is made 
more interesting by the manner of its presentation. 
The Chinese story is set in action in the Chinese 
fashion, a fashion very unlike that which now ob- 
tains on the English-speaking stage — although not 
altogether unlike that which prevailed in the play- 
houses of our island ancestors in the spacious days 
of Elizabeth. It has been pointed out by more than 



INTRODUCTION 

one critic — and by none more pertinently than the 
late Francisque Sarcey — that the drama, like every 
other art, can exist only by departing from the ac- 
tual facts of life. The painter and the sculptor rep- 
resent nature as motionless, though the waves are 
not still for a moment and the men and women are 
never immobile. The artists must depart from the 
fact, because this departure is a condition precedent 
to their several arts. If we are not willing to permit 
this violation of nature, if we refuse to make this 
bargain, we deny ourselves the pleasure which the 
painter and the sculptor can give us. This is the 
necessary convention on which their arts repose and 
without which their arts can not come into being. 

The drama has its necessary conventions, its de- 
partures from the actual fact, its violations of na- 
ture; and the spectators permit this because they 
would otherwise deprive themselves of the pleasure 
which only the theater can give. In a play every 
character must have a compact utterance, saying 
many things in few words. Every actor must raise 
his voice so that he may be heard by a thousand 
auditors, even though he is supposed to be whisper- 
ing. Every interior scene must be deprived of one 
wall, so that the spectators can look into the room 
where the action is supposed to be taking place. 
Such elementary conventions as these — implied con- 
tracts between the play-goers and the play-present- 
ers — are absolutely necessary, now and always, for 
without them the drama could not exist. 

But by the side of these permanent and essential 
conventions, imperative in all times and in all places^ 



INTRODUCTION 

we find at different times and in different places, 
other conventions not really necessary, temporary 
only and peculiar to some one time and to some one 
place. In the Greek theater the actors wore tower- 
ing masks ; and in the French theaters long ago the 
heroes of antiquity decked themselves with the full- 
bottomed wigs of Louis XIV. These violations of 
nature would seem absurd to us nowadays because 
they are unfamiliar ; but in themselves they are not 
more absurd than certain of the unnecessary con- 
ventions of our contemporary stage which we ac- 
cept unthinkingly because we are familiar with them. 

The Chinese theater, in its turn, has its own con- 
ventions and traditions, acceptable to the Oriental 
because he is so accustomed to them that they seem 
to him "natural". But some of these departures 
from fact appear very strange, not because they are 
violations of nature, but because they are wholly un- 
like the departures from fact which we accept be- 
cause we are accustomed to them. Very wisely have 
the authors of The Yellow Jacket set their story 
on the stage according to the conventions and tradi- 
tions of the theater where its several episodes were 
originally exhibited. They give us a Chinese drama, 
dealing with Chinese motives, and presented in the 
Chinese manner. With a firm reliance on our ap- 
preciation of the exotic, they invite us to smile at 
conventions which seem to us ludicrous in the ex- 
treme — and then, a moment later, they summon us 
to use our imagination to curb our laughter, and to 
let ourselves be taken captive by the sad plight of 
the human beings who people their play. Their 



INTRODUCTION 

drama derives its double charm from the tact and 
the taste with which they have wooed us to enjoy an 
exotic theme frankly put before us in an exotic 
fashion. Brander Matthews. 

Columbia University, in the City of New York. 



CHARACTERS 

Property Man. 

Chorus. 

Wu Sin Yin (Great Sound Language), Governor of 

the Province. 
Due Jung Fah (Fuchsia Flower), second wife of 

Wu Sin Yin. 
Tso (Fancy Beauty), maid to Due Jung Fah. 

Chee Moo (Kind Mother), first wife of Wu Sin 
Yin. 

Tai Fah Min (Great Painted Face), father of Due 
Jung Fah. 

Assistant Property Men. 

Suey Sin Fah (Lily Flower), wife of Lee Sin and 
maid of the first wife, Chee Moo. 

Lee Sin (First Farmer). 

Ling Won (Spirit). 

Wu Fah Din (Daffodil). 

Yin Suey Gong (Purveyor of Hearts). 

Wu Hoo Git (Young Hero of the Wu Family), des- 
tined for the Yellow Jacket. 

See Quoe Fah (Four-Season Flower). 

Mow Dan Fah (Peony). 

Yong Soo Kow (Hydrangea). 

Chow Wan (Autumn Cloud). 

Moy Fah Loy (Plum Blossom), daughter of Tai 
Char Shoong. 

See Noi (Nurse), in charge of Plum Blossom. 

Tai Char Shoong (Purveyor of Tea to the Em- 
peror). 

The Widow Ching. 

Maid. 

Git Hok Gar (Philosopher and Scholar)'. 

Kom Loi (Spider). 

Loy Gong (God of Thunder). 



FULTON 
THEATRE 



4eth Street, Just West of Broadway. 

HENRY B. HARRIS, - - - Sole Lessee and Manager 




BEGINNING MONDAY MATINEE, NOVEMBER 4. 
Regular Matinees Wednesday and Saturday. 
EXTRA .MATINEE ELECTION UA\. 



HARRIS & SELWYN, Inc., Offers 

THE YELLOW JACKET 

A Chinese Play, Presented in the Chinese Manner, in Three Parts. 

By George C. Hazeiton and Benrimo. 

Music by William Furst. 

Cast ol' Characters. 

(In the order of their appearance) 

Property Man Arthur Shaw 

Chorus Signor Peruglnl 

VVu Sin Yin {Great Sound Language) Governor of the ProTince, 

George Relph 
Due Jung Fah (Fuchsia Flower) second wife of Wu Sin Yin, 

Grace Valentine 

Tso (Fancy Beauty) maid to Due Jung Fah Antoinette Walker 

Chee Moo (Kind Mother) first wife of Wu Sin Yin. . . .Saxone Morland 
Tal Fah .Min (Great Painted Face) father of Due Jung Fah, 

second wife Reginald Barlow 

Lyman Tobin 

.-assistant Property Men j • cham\°e'^rai/ Brown 

' E. Colebroolc 

Suey Sin Fah (Lily Flower) wife of Lee Sin and maid of the nrst 

wife, Chee. Mge. CJrace A. Barbour 

Lee Sin (First Farmer) . J. Arthur Tonng 

Ling Won ( Spirit) Mark Price 

Wu Fah Din (Daffodil) Schuyler Ladd. 

Yin Suey Gong (Purveyor of Hearts) Reginald Barlow 

Wu Hoo Git (Young Hero of the Wu Family) destined for 

the Yellow Jacket .^ George Relph 

1^ See Quoe Fah (Four Season Flower) Betty Brewster 

Mow Dan Fah (Peony) Grace Valentine 

Yong Soo Kow (Hydrangea) Grace Halleck. 

Chow Wan (Autumn Cloud) Antoinette Walker 

Moy Fah Ley (Plum Blossom) Daughter of Tai Char Shoong, 

Juliette Day 
See Nol (Nurse) in charge of Plum Blossom .... Fanny Addison Pitt 

Tal Char Shoohg (Purveyor of Tea to the Emperor) Roy Gordon 

The Widow Ching Margaret Calvert 

Maid ." Betty Brewster 

Git Hok Gar (Philosopher and Scholar) Mark Price 

Kom Lol (Spider) Walter F. Scott 

Loy Gong (God of Thunder) J. Arthur Young 

The Scene Represents the Sta?e of a Chinese Theatre. 
Modeled After the Old Jackson Street Theatre, San Franc'sca 
PART 1. — The Mothers I-'artinfe 
PART 11. — The Story of Love- 
PART III. — The Conflict. 
Scenery painted by H. Robert Law. Scenery and properties built by the 
Hudson Construction Coreipany. Draperies a.nd hangings by The Louis XIV» 
Shop, New York. Costumes imported. Wigs by William Brolch. 

Produced Under the Direction of Benrimo. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 



THE YELLOW JACKET 



ACT I 

At the rise of the theater curtain blue silk dra- 
peries are disclosed, embroidered with gold drag- 
ons, forming a tableau curtain. These draperies 
are arranged to part in the center. When drawn, 
they hang in graceful folds on each side of the 
stage. The property man enters indifferently 
from the opening at center of curtain, strikes 
thrice on a gong and exits. The Chorus then 
enters, bows right, left and center. His costume 
is that of a rich Chinese scholar, the dominant 
note being red. His manner is most dignified. 
His actions are ceremonious. 

Chorus 

Most honorable neighbors, the bows, which I 
so humbly and solemnly divest myself of, are 
given in reverence to the three powers — Heaven 
— Earth — Man. I have been appointed by my 
humble brothers of the Pear Tree Garden to con- 
duct you through a story of our celestial land to 
be played upon our most unworthy stage. Per- 
mit me to thank that vice of curiosity which beck- 

I 



2 THE YELLOW JACKET _ 

oned you hither that we might paint before your 
august eyes our humble fancy. I bow. 

Bows three times. 

Let me intrude a slight history of our most un- 
worthy theater and the reason that we refer to our 
players as brothers of the Pear Tree Garden. A 
most curious tale — our beginning! It had its 
birth in the dynasty of the most wholesome one, 
the great Ming Wang. In reverence for so glori- 
ous a beginning we have kept our stage ever the 
same. For this antiquity, august and honorable, 
we ask indulgence. The good and honored Ming 
Wang, Son of Heaven and of glorious memory, 
was visited by an enchanted dream — full of 
strange beauty. In sleep he rambled over the 
moon. When the morning lifted his eyelids he 
wished his wife to behold the dream-painted 
beauties which had joyed his sleep. The Court, 
at his command, clothed in the glory of his dream, 
played the story of his moon-colored fancy be- 
neath the pear trees of his summer palace-yard 
for her he loved. While I fill up time with many 
words, my brothers are burning costly incense be- 
fore the God of the Theater who, they hope, will 
bountifully answer their prayer and make them 
worthy to win your approval. Much of our act- 



THE YELLOW JACKET 3 

ing will be strange. Our play deals with mother's 
love, the love of youth, and the hate of men, 
which makes them do unhappy things. Spirits of 
those who once walked flowery or pestilent paths 
in this world will reach out their hands to suf- 
ferers in our history. We hope out of our imper- 
fect efforts there may come to you some pleasure. 
I fear I have intruded too long upon your wel- 
come and that you are in haste for my brothers 
to begin. They, too, are impatient, for the per- 
fume of their sacrifice even now floats upon the 
august air. 

Men will speak fair words with blackened 
minds. That you may not be carried away by 
their wiles, we have enmasked them with paint — 
red, white and black — that you may know them; 
but they will never know that you know that their 
souls are mirrored in their faces, for men look 
many times to see themselves, as they are pleased 
to see themselves. It is mostly so with villains. 
As prompter for my brothers, I will be ever be- 
fore you to help you to an understanding of our 
doings. For so much kmd patience as you have 
shown, I give you thanks and shall tell my 

brothers. 

Bows three times. 



4 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Observe well with your eyes and listen well 
with your ears. Be as one family, exceedingly 
happy and content. Heaven has no mouth. It 
makes men speak for it. 

Bells. 

The gusts of Heaven breathe on the bells and 
they tinkle with joy on the eaves of the pagoda. 

Ere departing my footsteps hence, let me im- 
press upon you that my property man is to your 
eyes intensely invisible. 

Property man now comes before curtain 
again. Strikes gong and exits. 



I bow. 



Claps his hands three times; curtains part, 
revealing a set in didl orange with green 
and gold trimmings. There are two 
doors, one stage left for entrance and 
one stage right for exit. In the center at 
the hack is an oval opening surrounded 
by a grill, zvithin which the musicians 
sit. Above this opening is another, 
square in form, zvhich represents 
Heaven. About the walls of the scene 
are Chinese banners and signs of good 
cheer. Huge lanterns hang from above. 
At the left is a large property box, and 
above it are chairs, tables, cushions, etc., 
in fact all properties used in the play. 
Chorus takes his seat up center. Music. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 5 

Chorus 

'Tis the palace of Wu Sin Yin, the Great, a 
most unhappy man, for he possesses two wives. 
He comes, Wu Sin Yin, the Great. 

The gong sounds and the cymbals crash; 
the curtain on door left is pulled aside. 

Enter Wu Sin Yin. He comes down 
stage, then walks to right, then to cen- 
ter, turns twice round, and seats himself. 
The property man assists him to arrange 
his costume, then smokes complacently. 
Wu Sin Yin gases solemnly before him; 
his whole action on entrance is con- 
sciously done to display his costume; 
when seated he spreads his legs and 
turns out his toes, displays his finger- 
nails on his left hand, two of which are 
very long, one being gilded and the 
other colored green; he fans himself; 
during this business the orchestra plays, 
the cymbals crash, the drum rolls and 
the wooden block is struck. The cymbals 
are struck also, when he mentions the 
name of the Emperor. 

Wu Sin Yin 

I am the most important personage in this play. 
Therefore, I address you first. By your gracious 
leave, with many apologies, I will state in all mod- 
esty, for your edification only, for of course I 
know who I am and how great and august I am. 



6 THE YELLOW JACKET 

while you are not so favored, that I am Wu Sin 
Yin, the Great. I have the third eye of wisdom 
here. I shape the destiny with my finger-tips of 
the people on the Yangtsekiang. 

Sits in great state fanned by attendant. 

I would bow to you, but it is beneath my dig- 
nity. Lly wives kotow to me in abject slavery, 
which is as it should be with wives. This is my 
sun-kissed palace on the purple hill. Here by seal 
and by the red pencil on a 3^ellow silken banner, I 
hold my court and issue my edicts. Here the ab- 
ject subjects of my province crawl to bring me 
the harvest of their labors, for it is decreed by 
the Son of Heaven, our Celestial Emperor, of the 
Eighth Dynasty, 

Rises and bows three times. 

that they bring me the fruits of their slavish me- 
nial toil. With all this felicity of personal impor- 
tance, I am still augustly unhappy, for I possess 
two wives — a first wife and a second wife. Chee 
Moo, the first wife, has a child crab-like and 
spider-formed. It was her mistake, not mine. I 
have a right divine to like or dislike my wives at 
pleasure. Happiness is necessary to a great gov- 
ernor in order that his menials may be happy by 



THE YELLOW JACKET 7 

reflection, as I am in the presence of my second 
wife, Due Jung Fah, who shines in the light of 
my favor. I must, in august sympathy for my 
situation, dehcately dispose of the first wife and 
crooked child — very delicately — for Chee Moo's 
family is powerful; and, if I beheaded her un- 
couthly, they might be annoyed. I must contrive 
a secret and respectful and courteous departure 
for her honorable soul. Then I may pass my 
hours in celestial bliss with Due Jung Fah, my 
beautiful second one. How shall I accomplish it? 
I am admonished of the approach of my honored 
second father-in-law, Tai Fah Min, who is wisely 
virtuous and will advise me. 

On exit curtain at right door is lifted and 
the orchestra plays until the curtain 
falls. The property man removes the 
chair and places it left among other 
properties. 

Chorus 

'Tis the garden of Due Jung Fah, the second 
wife of Wu Sin Yin, the Great. 

Enter Due Jung Fah followed by her maid, 
Tso, door left. Both hold their fans he- 
fore their faces and walk with mincing 
steps to center, during music. Due Jung 
Fah keeps always a little in advance of 
Tso. 



8 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Due Jung Fah 

Gentle listeners, here in my garden, with cere- 
monial bow, I tell you, I am Due Jung Fah, most 
unhappy of ladies. I am the second wife of Wu 
Sin Yin, the Great. There would be music in my 
heart if it were not for the first wife. The but- 
terflies and bees and the humming-birds do not 
come to my garden. They fly to make hers beau- 
tiful. 

To Tso. 

Interrupt me not. The gold-fish die in my lily 
ponds and swim sun-kissed in Chee Moo's across 
the wall. Where she walks with her monkey- 
faced child, the hyacinths bloom, the purple wis- 
taria and the white jasmine fill the air with fra- 
grance for her painted nostrils. I breathe and 
breathe, and the air is heavy with death of flow- 
ers. Oh, oh, even the lanterns in her evening 
walk brighten her path, while mine fade and I 
stumble. 

Stops Tso, who would speak. 

Tell me not. I marvel that any one should do 
her homage. My mind is crowded with thoughts 
of her cripple monster-child, for my soul has not 




OOPYRIGHT, 1913, BY ARNOLD GENTHE 



Tso. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 9 

given forth a child-seed. The air is filled with the 
approach of some one. Let us depart. 

As Due Jung Fah exits door right, music, 

Tso 

Returns to center. 

No one comes. The opportunity was not per- 
mitted me to tell you truly that I am Tso, the 
maid of Due Jung Fah. When I met you my mis- 
tress wanted to unburden her august soul to you. 
Though I was filled with sky words, I am too 
adroit to talk when she wishes to. I am the dust 
in the sunbeam. I am one of the darkest shadows 
of our play. It is the modest little maid whose 
manner is filled with sunlight that throws the 
prettiest little shadows of the dark. Innocence 
makes the best play-shadow. The night shadow 
has no danger, for you see it as you pass. Sweet 
little flitting shadows like mine trip you in your 
path. I threw a tiny rainbow shadow across Due 
Jung Fah's eyes which looked like the first wife in 
her richest jewels and prettiest gown ; and then a 
big thunder-cloud shadow across the eyes of Wu 
Sin Yin, and the cloud took on the image of his 
twisted child. If Chee Moo is gently disposed of, 
Due Jung Fah becomes the first wife and I be- 



lo THE YELLOW JACKET 

come the first maid. The first maid, Suey Sin 
Fah, faints at the incense of some flowers. Lee 
Sin, her husband, deserves a wife more brave. 
Why not a gentle little shadow ? 

Exits, Music. 
Chorus 

'Tis a road leading to the palace of Wu Sin 
Yin, the Great. He comes, Tai Fah Min! 
mounted on his milk-white steed ! 

Loud crash of cymbals: curtain on door 
left is lifted and Tai Fah Min enters 
followed by tzvo men; he carries a whip 
and does pantomime of riding and driv- 
ing a horse; one of the men who fol- 
low him carries a banner inscribed with 
Chinese characters; this banner is red; 
the other carries a large fan on a stick; 
he comes down to left, then crosses 
right, then to center; goes through busi- 
ness of dismounting his horse, throw- 
ing his leg high in the air; the property 
man assists him and helps his man hold 
his supposed horse; he lays his whip on 
the ground behind him; during all this, 
music. 

The supernumeraries retire up stage with 
supposed horse. Tai Fah Min pivots on 
one foot, takes out his fan, which is car- 
ried at the back of his neck, and bows 
three times to the audience. Gongs. 



THE YELLOW JACKET ii 

Tai Fah Min 

My horse ! Remove him ! He must not hear 
the secret thoughts of his master. Tai Fah Min 
is my name. I come from the Southland, where 
the sun kisses the hilltops. I rule a province 
there as rich as the one of him I come to visit. I 
bow to you. 

Bows three times. 

risking my dignity in doing so. A father's love 
hastens me hither, for I am the parent of the 
most' wretched of ladies, the second wife of the 
celestial governor of this province, Wu Sin Yin, 
the Great. Chee Moo, the first wife, and her 
monster-born child stand between my beautiful 
daughter. Due Jung Fah, and her husband. No 
one will envy her dead. Whatever pathway a 
father finds to give happiness to a daughter is not 
offensive to the gods. This province is too crowd- 
ed with august wives, and the honorable Chee 
Moo, the first wife, and her dragon-eyed child, 
should be generous to others who need the celes- 
tial air they breathe. Due Jung Fah, my daughter, 
will then be all and I will be all. This is the road 

to the palace. 

To attendants. 



12 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Bring back my sublime horse! Attend me on 
foot. 

Property man brings forward the sup- 
posed horse and he goes through the 
pantomime of mounting; they assist 
him, property man picks up whip and 
hands it to him; he beats the supposed 
horse. Exit Tai Fah Min and attend- 
ants; door right. 

The property man now places a table cen- 
ter, which he carries from left, places a 
red cover on it; then two chairs on 
either side, zuhich he also covers with a 
red cloth, and puts a small stool on each. 

Chorus 

'Tis a room in the palace of Wu Sin Yin, the 
Great. 

Enter door left, Wu Sin Yin. Attended 
by a man zvith a fan, he seats himself in 
chair right of table; his dress is ar- 
ranged as before by property man, etc.; 
during this, music. Enter attendant 
with Tai Fah Mins card and kneels. 
After Wu Sin Yin is seated, enter Tai 
Fah Min, attended by a man zuith a fan. 
Wu Sin Yin rises, pivots on right foot 
once, then clasps his hands, opens his 
fan, which he takes from back of neck, 
and seats himself. Tai Fah Min does 
the same business and seats himself left 
of table. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 13 

Wu Sin Yin 

Tai Fah Min, my exalted second father-in- 
law, I receive you into my palace and presence 
with exuberance of fancy. My beloved second 
father-in-law may assume that Wu Sin Yin, the 
Great, has bowed to him with filial obeisance. 

Tai Fah Min 

And my celestial son-in-law may felicitate him- 
self with the glorious fancy that his second 
father-in-law also has bowed. The palace of 
the great Wu Sin Yin breathes incense of happi- 
ness. The gods smiled and it rose like a flower 
from the earth for the habitation of our master. 
The teak-wood was carved by moon-rays danc- 
ing on its surface, the rugs were woven by hum- 
ming-bird beaks as they played hide-and-seek 
with their love-mates among the silken threads 
pn the loom: The gods^ — 

Wu Sin Yin 

Ah, Tai Fah Min, my Tai Fah Min, you exag- 
gerate the magnificence of my palace by compli- 
ments of great length. It is most humble. The 
beauties of my mind are enmeshed by the threads 
of evil woven there by the spider's art, else why 



14 THE YELLOW JACKET 

should I, Wii Sin Yin, the Great, be the most un- 
happy of men? 

Property man here comes forward with 
tray on which are two cups; he places 
them on the table. 

Tai Fah Min 

The most radiantly happy ! 

Wu Sin Yin 

Ah, if 3^our daughter were only my first wife 
— not my second, my Tai Fah Min. 

Tax Fah Min 

My daughter dare not look so high. She has 
not yet reached that great state — motherhood. 

Wu Sin Yin 

I must have advice that brings unclouded to my 
arms and lips, the rosy lotus lips and arms of Due 
Jung Fah. Advise me my way, Tai Fah Min. 

Tai Fah Min 
My brain speaks, but my heart stands still. 

Wu Sin Yin 
Who could guide me better than my second 




H 
O 

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W 

H 
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!2: 

H-l 



THE YELLOW JACKET 15 

father-in-law, who has such Interest in my af- 
fairs ? 

Tai Fah Min 

Anxiously: 

I speak. The first wife, Chee Moo, stands in 
the hate of your subjects, because the child she 
bore was cramped, crab-like, monstrous and un- 
wise in its likenesses of evil. The devils damned 
it at its birth with — the monstrosities of the — 

Wu Sin Yin 

Interrupting : 
Mother's soul. Forget not that. 

Tai Fah Min 

That will save us with your subjects. If it had 
inherited the noble godlike spirit of the father, 
Wu Sin Yin, the common hordes would have de- 
manded it for the next ruler. They dare to 
loathe the fruits of your body. Your scholars 
would advise as I do, Wu Sin Yin. 

Wu Sin Yin 
And that is — 

Tai Fah Min 

Hush! Let us pass into another room where 
none may listen. 



i6 THE YELLOW JACKET 

They walk three times about the stage and 
stop each in the other's place. Prop- 
erty man changes chairs. Music. 

We are safer here in this isolated spot. This 
palatial room is more fragrant than that we have 
passed from. 

Wu Sin Yin 

Use up no more air in compliment. 

Tai Fah Min 

We must whisper. No matter how safe you 
hide the egg the chicken will hatch. A sweet 
passing heavenward for the first mother and the 
child. 

Wu Sin Yin 

Gleefully: 

And Due Jung Fah will come to me with no 
shadows between us. But my conscience con- 
strains me. 

Tai Fah Min 

Soothingly: 

Think on the gorgeous munificence of her fu- 
neral ! To die the wife of Wu Sin Yin, the Great, 
is like breathing zephyrs of the South as against 
living in a typhoon. Think how proud her fam- 



THE YELLOW JACKET 17 

ily should be of the ceremonies as we lay the first 
wife with her ancestors ! Her death will be most 
glorious. 

Wu Sin Yin 
Can we make her family believe it? 
Tai Fah Min 

It would be deplorably bad taste if her family 
did not appreciate the magnificence of the fu- 
neral that your dignity will afford her. 

Wu Sin Yin 

A blind cat catches only a dead rat. Have I 
among my servants one in dignity becoming to 
do the deed, for we could not leave it to the public 
executioner ? 

Tai Fah Min 

Lee Sin, the farmer, — worthy, god-favored 
and properly menial. 

Wu Sin Yin 

Thoughtfully: 
This farmer is strong. 

Tai Fah Min 

He will gently plough a furrow with his sword 



i8 THE YELLOW JACKKT 

in Chee Moo's neck, and the gods will smile upon 
such husbandry. 

Wu Sin Yin 
Send for him ! 

Enter Tso door left, with short strain of 
music, 

Tso 

Most august and greatest of men, representa- 
tive of the Son of Heaven : I kneel, bow and ask 
that my mistress. Due Jung Fah, your devoted 
second wife, may speak with her august lord and 
husband. 

Wu Sin Yin 

Condescendingly : 

My wife may speak to her husband-master. 

Exit Tso, after bowing to both men. 

Tai Fah Min 

See how humbly my daughter approaches you. 

Enter Due Jung Fah, followed by Tso; 
kneels and hows to Wu Sin Yin; music. 

Due Jung Fah 

Most wonderful and only husband in the world, 



THE YELLOW JACKET 19 

of whom even as the second wife, I, Due Jung 
Fah, am most unworthy. 

Bows. 

Wu Sin Yin 

Luscious one, I greet you. Rise and greet 
your worthy and far-seeing father, Tai Fah Min ! 

Due Jung Fah 

I could not bow to my ancestors' tablets, much 
less to my noble father, before I had bowed my 
head in the dust three times to my gracious hus- 
band. 

Due Jung Fah here kneels and hows to 
Tai Fah Min. All rise and how. 

Tai Fah Min 

My daughter has the modesty that Confucius 
praises. Her voice is low and gentle. Gracious 
and celestial one, pardon the emotions of the 
greetings of a father in your presence. 

Wu Sin Yin 

How would you fancy, my Due Jung Fah, as 
first wife, to languish unclouded in the lavish 
smiles of Wu Sin Yin, the Great? . 



20 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Due Jung Fah 

But Chee Moo, my sister, the glorious first 
wife, lives. 

Pretending to be startled^ looking from 
one to the other. 

Not dead ! I should faint of grief. 

Tai Fah Min 

Aside to her: 

Remember it is your duty to fill your husband's 

eyes with happiness and obedience, that wifehood 

in you may be glorious to the end that such a child 

as Chee Moo bore shall not live to rule in the 

Flowery Kingdom. Wu Sin Yin and your father 

ask it. 

Due Jung Fah 

I love the province of the august Wu Sin Yin. 
Who does the deed? 

Tai Fah Min 

Lee Sin, the farmer. 

Due Jung Fah 

I am resigned, if it can not be done more 
gently with the dream-giving opiates. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 21 

Wu Sin Yin 

I had the flowers about her filled with the soft- 
est poison perfume that she might breathe their 
august exhalations and pass gently to the honor- 
able and desirable land of dreams. I went as the 
morning broke to weep over her departed soul, 
but it was she who was in tears over the honorable 
departure of the bees and butterflies and hum- 
ming-birds who for love of their mistress had 
sucked the poison honey of the flowers and laid 
themselves to rest for her they loved. Their self- 
ishness in robbing their mistress of her eternal 
sleep was inexcusable. 

Due Jung Fah 

I will retire and pray seven days at the tablets 

of my ancestors for the soul of Chee Moo and her 

child. 

Wu Sin Yin 

Your prayers shall cover but the space of one 

day. 

Due Jung Fah 

Wu Sin Yin, the Great ! I dwell in the unhap- 
piness of my sister-wife. Fan me ! 

Exit Due Jung Fah door right, after h ow- 
ing three times, followed by Tso. 
Music. 



22 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Sin Yin 

Send for the executioner ! I shake hands with 
myself, Tai Fah ^lin, and leave you. 

Wu Sin Yin clasps his hands, hozvs, opens 
his fan and exits door right, followed by 
Tai Fah Min; cymbal and gong. Prop- 
erty man now removes chairs and table. 

Chorus 

'Tis the garden of Chee Moo, the unhappy first 
wife of \\n Sin Yin, the Great. 

Enter Chee Moo door left, with child, 
which is represented by a stick zvith 
pieces of cloth wrapped around it and 
hanging down. Comes down and 
crosses right. During following speech 
soft wails from orchestra, 

Chee Moo 

Oh, woe is me! Murder is in the air. The 
evil spirits build walls about me whichever way I 
go. Now you know that I am Chee Moo and this 
the child, Wu Hoo Git. The devils put toads in 
our path to croak and awake him that he might 
cry out and reveal us : bats in the air follow us by 
night and hang their great Withered wings from 
the rafters of Heaven, like a dead forest, to im- 



THE YELLOW JACKET 23 

pede us by day. My boy, my pretty boy ! whom 
evil plotters call cripple and monster- formed but 
who, as you see, is celestially beautiful. Let 
your baby dreams be a silent prayer to your an- 
cestors for help. I will cry out to them from a 
mother's heart for your protection. We will fly 
to the mountains, the place of the issuing clouds, 
where your mother will weave fabrics of silk to 
cradle you in and care for you until your baby 
arm can wield a sword to confound your enemies. 
The lantern of my love hangs in the temple of my 
mind, and I pray you, my ancestors, let no unkind 
wind spirit or water sprite quench the flame of 

my child-love. 

Exits door right. 

Chorus 

'Tis a courtyard in the palace of Wu Sin Yin, 
the Great. 

Music. Enter Lee Sin. Comes down left, 
crosses right and hows. 

Lee Sin 

I am Lee Sin, the child of the rice fields. The 
chop-sticks of the poor and the chop-sticks of the 
rich await my harvest. I feed them as the golden 
pheasant feeds its young. Where I labor the god 



/ 



24 THE YELLOW JACKET 

of the soil smiles on my ox and me, for we are 
sacred. 

Bows; prostrates himself before Tax Fah 
Min, who enters door left; loud crash 
on cymbals and gong. 

Tai Fah Min 

Rise, Lee Sin, I would speak. 

Lee Sin 

Father of the second wife, I bring you greet- 
ings. 

Tai Fah Min 

Son of the soil, I realize the dignity of your 

greetings. 

Lee Sin 

Wu Sin Yin bade me come. I left my ox to 
feed and dusted my feet and came. 

Tai Fah Min 

You labor too hard. I would help you. 

Lee Sin 

If you took me from my labor you would rob 
me of the joy of living — which is my all. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 25 

Tai Fah Min 

Would you add to the gold in your purse, Lee 
Sin? 

Lee Sin 

An avaricious man is like a snake trying to 
swallow an elephant. I have enough — and that 
is all I need. 

Tai Fah Min 

You have a wife who may think more wisely, 
Lee Sin. 

Lee Sin 

Suey Sin Fah is my wife, and maid to the 

beautiful Chee Moo, first wife of Wu Sin Yin, 

the Great. She, too, is happy and content, for 

she is good. 

Tai Fah Min 

What do you love best in all the world, Lee 

Sin? 

Lee Sin 

My parents and my wife, the little Suey Sin 
Fah. 

Tai Fah Min 

And have you no love for your master, Wu Sin 
Yin, the Great ? 



2(i THE YELLOW JACKEJ 

Lee Sin 

I bow in the dust three times to him. He 

stands in the place for me of the Emperor, the 

Son of Heaven. 

Gongs J both h owing. 

Tai Fah Min 
You would not refuse then to do his bidding? 

Lee Sin 

To refuse would mean my death, and that I 
would give him for the asking. 

Tai Fah Min 
And if he asks you to kill for him? 

Lee Sin 

He would not ask it. 

Tai Fah Min 

Hands him death order, represented by 
tiger's head on a scroll. 

It is the command of the Son of Heaven. 

Gongs and both bow. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 27 

Lee Sin 

The tiger's head ! What criminal name is pen- 
ciled on the gaping mouth? My eyes are like 
swords danced upon by evil spirits. I can not 
see. Chee Moo, my wife's dearest mistress, and 
the child ! I can not kill them. I will go to my 

ancestors first. 

Drops scroll. 
Tai Fah Min 

Then Suey Sin Fah will go with you. 

Lee Sin 

Why does not the public executioner wreak his 
master's impatience on the head of Chee Moo? 
He is skilled in killing first wives. 

Tai Fah Min 

It must be a quiet and merciful affair, other- 
wise it might become a scandal. Her family 
should congratulate her on the release of her suf- 
fering soul, for those beheaded or strangled are 
free from suffering, but wives' families are 
strangely inconsiderate. 

Lee Sin 

He that rids his house of an evil had better suf- 
fer the evil than tell the world. 



28 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Tai Fah Min 

I am going to Wu Sin Yin to drink delicious 
tea. Bring us the head of Chee Moo. 

Exit Tai Fah Min door right, fanning 
himself. Screeching sound played on 
instruments. 



Lee Siir 



The tis:er's head ! 



^is 



Picks up scroll. 



Ancestors, save me. An hour ago my ox and I 
were happy. The soft breeze on the rice fields 
brought us the music of Heaven. An instant, 
and the typhoon comes with a word, and the land 
is bleak, and death hovers where the sun-rays 
played. This is the evil moon wrought by man's 
mischief. He is not content and will not suffer 
his poorest neighbors to be content. The tiger's 
head ! I must do the murder to save my wife, lit- 
tle Suey Sin Fah. 

Enter Suey Sin Fah, door left. Music. 
Comes down left, hows three times. 

Suey Sin Fah 

May I be permitted to tell this august worthy 
audience — ^to whom I bow, for it is my business 




COPYR GHT, 1913, BY ARNOLD GENTHE 



The Farmer. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 29 

to be humble, — being both a maid and a wife, — 

for I am the maid of the august gracious Chee 

Moo, the first wife, and the wife of the god-loved 

farmer, Lee Sin. 

Lee Sin 

Back to her. 

And like to be the widow of that same Lee Sin, 
for the evil spirits encircle him. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

I pray my ancestors that I may not be maid 
and widow at one time. Your eyes roll. What 
demon spirits clutch your heart, my husband, 
Lee Sin ? The veins in your forehead burst, your 
hands twitch with the wrenchings of the evil one. 

Violent beating on gong and crash of cym- 
bals. 

Lee Sin 

Shows her scroll. 

The tiger's head with a name upon its tongue. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Not yours, Lee Sin, my love, not yours ! 

Lee Sin 

Chee Moo ! I must be her executioner. 



30 THE YELLOW JACKET 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Chee Moo, my august mistress in the tiger's 
mouth ! Let us die together and save Chee Moo 
and the boy, who are even now enchained pris- 
oners within the walls of her flowery garden at 
the displeasure of her unkind husband. 

Lee Sin 

I can not. The tiger ! The mother dies by the 
sword ; the child deserted in the wolf land. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Is this the husband of my breast, is this dis- 
torted demon the one to whom I gave a wife- 
heart ? 

Lee Sin 

I bow to the gods to tear all tender feelings 
from me that I may work myself into an unkind- 
ness to do Chee Moo's murder. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

I love the august Chee Moo and her beautiful 
child. She is suffering from the machinations of 
Due Jung Fah, who is the human spider in the 
world-box. We must save Chee Moo. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 31 

Lee Sin 

If I obey not the mandate of Wu Sin Yin, the 
Great, your life and mine will answer for it. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Death with our ancestors will be just as sweet 
in our love. The good of the people demands that 
Chee Moo live to raise her boy. 

Lee Sin 

But if I fail, Chee Moo will die the same by 

the hand of another found to do the work, as 

others will come to plough the rice fields when I 

and my ox are dead. Where is the honorable 

Chee Moo ? 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Praying in her prison to the great-eyed god for 
the soul of her boy, Wu Hoo Git. 

Lee Sin 

What am I to do? 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Kill little Tso, and pass her off for the august 

Chee Moo. 

Lee Sin 

Suspiciously: 



32 THE YELLOW JACKET 

You are jealous of little Tso. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Tso is a fox and makes mischief for us all. 
She dreams black plots at night and whispers 
them in the willing ears of Due Jung Fah. The 
gods smile when a bad being is killed, for it is so 
rare. The good do the dying. That makes them 
good. 

Lee Sin 

But Tso does not look like Chee Moo. We 

should fail. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Business. 

The sword that takes this from this — can slash 
this out of semblance. 

Business taking pin from her hair. 

Pin this in her hair. I took it from my mistress' 
head-dress. Where are you going? 

Lee Sin 

After my august sword. 

Exeunt Lee Sin and Suey Sin Fah, door 
right. Enter door left, Tso. Music. 




COPYRIOHT, 181S, BY ARNOLD GENTHg 

The Farmer and His Wife. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 33 

Tso 

A moonbeam fell where the murder was con- 
trived. I know all, for I listened. I was behind 
it and heard Wu Sin Yin and Tai Fah Min plan 
it all. There must be moonbeams somewhere 
when great passions are working. If it had been 
a sunbeam there never could have been a murder. 

Lee Sin enters, takes sword from property 
man. Tso does not see him at first. He 
stands and looks at her. She finally sees 
him and begins to flirt. 

I knew you were here, Lee Sin. 

Lee Sin 

How could you know ? 

Tso 

A butterfly lit on my heart and said, "Beware — 
there is a heart-thief here." 

Lee Sin 

The butterfly lied. I am married. 

Tso 

That is the whole trouble in the honorable au- 
gust world. All the fascinating men are married. 



34 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Lee Sin 

Work not your wiles on me, for I am rough, 
honest and not fascinating. 

Tso 

It is the honest husband that falls first, for he 
is foolish, and doesn't know or doesn't mean to, 
or doesn't know that he wants to mean to. I pray 
my ancestors not to give me too honest a husband. 

Lee Sin 

Aside, as he crosses to right: 

She is the evil thing. Her fox soul should be 
released. I must do it. 

Tso 

You will find the honorable Chee Moo and her 
august monster-child yonder. The light from the 
jewel in the forehead of her god-image will fall 
upon the mortal spot and lead the sword. 

Lee Sin 

How knew you of my purpose? 

Tso 

A tortoise by the pool told me. He was so 



THE YELLOW JACKET 35 

slow he overheard the plot in passing. Is your 
honorable sword very sharp? 

Lee Sin 

As sharp as the east wind. 

Tso 

Will you hack her one blow ? 

Lee Sin 

No more. 

Tso 

How long will it take? 

Lee Sin 

The time it takes a lark to swallow a grass- 
hopper. 

Tso shows glee. 

Tso 

Where will the sword cut? 

He walks up stage and shows her at neck. 
She shudders. 

Will it be very hard on your hands ? 

Lee Sin 
It will be. 



36 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Tso 

When will you do the deed ? 

Lee Sin 
Now. 

Business. Lee Sin strikes at her neck with 
sword. Property man comes forward 
and holds a red flag before her face. 

I am blind with august blood. Where is the 

head? 

Property man throws a red sack on the 
stage. Tso exits door right. Lee Sin 
picks up red sack and talks to it. 

The remnant of a soul that lived! I will clip the 

ears. I will chop off the honorable nose. I will 

slit the precious eyes — that drooped to my humble 

eyes once. Without eyes, ears, lips and nose, 

you, as the first wife, Chee Moo, are as good as 

any. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Enters door left. 

Where is the head ? Show me the head ? Oh, 
woe is me ; it is my august mistress, Chee Moo ! 

Lee Sin 

The fox maid, little Tso ! 



THE YELLOW JACKET 37 

SuEY Sin Fah 

It is Chee Moo, my mistress, Chee Moo ! 

Lee Sin 

My sword worked the magic. I carved her to 
look like Chee Moo. There is the eye that 
drooped in love to your humble husband's. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

She drooped her eye to you? I recognize it 
now. She should be dead! Look to your ex- 
alted sword ! Oxheaded devils cling to its blade. 

Lee Sin 

The evil ones upon my blade mock her — not 

me, and they shall mock at Wu Sin Yin, for I 

shall present him with the sword together with 

her head. 

Suey Sin Fah pins jewel on the hag. 

Bid Chee Moo flee with her child. 

Suey Sin Fah exits door right, 

Lee Sin 

The world is fire lined. To my work — I drag 
away the body, for without its head it is sweeter 
to fertilize a field of poppies. 



38 THE YELLOW JACKET 

hee Sin goes through business of picking 
up supposed body and exits door right; 
music; prop^erty man now places table 
center, covered with red cloth; also 
chairs on either side, which are also cov- 
ered with red cloth, with stools on their 
seats. 

Chorus 
'Tis the palace of Wu Sin Yin, the Great. 

Enter Wu Sin Yin, door left; roll of 
drum; seats himself at right of table. 
Enter Tai Fah Min, takes seat on left 
of table; music stops. Property man 
brings tray on which are two cups and 
places the same on table. 

Wu Sin Yin 

Is it accomplished, my Tai Fah Min? Does 

your daughter sit in the coveted place she longed 

for? 

Tai Fah Min 

Complacently: 
Let us drink tea. 

Wu Sin Yin 

Bring tea, and cups of honeysuckle flowers and 

rose petals. 

They drink. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 39 

Tai Fah Min 

It is glorious when the tod die and the good 

live. 

Wu Sin Yin 

Glorious ! A rose petal for my tea. 

Property man pretends to deliver one with 
chop sticks. 

Enter Lee Sin door left, kneels and bows 
three times to Wu Sin Yin, rises and 
puts basket which he has carried with 
him on table, laying his sword on top. 

Lee Sin 

Most celestial master, I fall upon my knees, 
for they hold me not. Her head has been re- 
moved and quietness reigns. In the basket, my 
honorable master. The august sword is there, 
too, most honorable master. Forget not the au- 
gust sword. 

Wu Sin Yin 

Removes sword and peeks into basket. 

Burn perfumed incense as I peep at it. You 
have chopped off the lips that I have kissed ! 

Lee Sin 
They lied, great master. 



40 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Sin Yin 
You have slit the eyes that have blinked to me ! 
Lee Sin 

And to others, great master. 

Wu Sin Yin 

You have chopped off the ears that have lis- 
tened to my love! 

Lee Sin 
They have heard too much, great master. 

Tai Fah Min 

Her head to the pigs! Another honeysuckle 
leaf for my tea ! 

Wu Sin Yin 

She was my first wife. I'll bury the trunk 
with august honor. Inform Due Jung Fah that 
I come. She need pray no longer. My arms ache 
for her, Tai Fah ]\Iin. 

Music; exit Wu Sin Yin, followed by Tai 
Fah Min, door right. 

Lee Sin 

With liead. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 41 

To the pigs! To the pigs with the head, but 
the demon sword for the girdle of Wu Sin Yin. 

Exit Lee Sin, music , door right. Property 
man removes table and chairs, placing 
them on stage left. Music, plaintive 
theme. 

Chee Moo 

Enters left with child, as before. Down 
center. 

To the mountains, where the evil eye grows 
blind in the pure air of Heaven. 

Enter spirit. Ling Won, with roll of drum 
at upper opening. Music. 

Ling Won 

And the eye of Heaven sees all. 

Chee Moo 

Who are you that floats upon a fleecy cloud? 
Are you an executioner who bears a sword ? 

Ling Won 

Fear not, I am the spirit of Wu Hoo Git's 
great-grandfather, the first Wu Hoo Git. 



42 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Chee Moo 

Then the breath of this child is your own life 
breeze, still playing on this earth. And this is 
the little Wu Hoo Git, who inherits your to-day 
and your to-morrow. 

Ling Won 

As I inherit his yesterday and his yesterdays 
before it. I am the spirit-self of his great-grand- 
mother, too ; we of yesterday are two in one. 

Chee Moo 
How mean you ? 

Ling Won 

The land of the dead is so crowded that mar- 
ried souls become as one in space and the silk- 
worms of the dead land weave us into one cocoon 
that we may not crowd our neighbors. 

Chee Moo 

Why does not his great-grandmother speak? 

Ling Won 

It is not so ordained. She, being the woman, 
offended the ears of the gods — and her husband 



THE YELLOW JACKET 43 

— ^with many words when alive, so the just gods 
suffer me only to speak now that we are dead. 

Chee Moo 

Can she hear and see us, too? 

Ling Won 

She can hear and see all. There, too, the gods 
are just, for in life the nights enamored me from 
home to listen to the moon-birds in the shadows 
of the trees, while I sucked the honey of the 
night-blooming cereus along the way, and too 
often the morning dawned v^rhile I still drank in 
the songs of the women on the flower boats. 

Chee Mod 

And will little Wu Hoo Git live as you do in 
death ? 

Ling Won 

Too soon if you obey me not. I come to warn 

and save him. 

Chee Moo 

Who would harm my little Wu Hoo Git ? 

Ling Won 
The august Wu Sin Yin, his father, even now 



44 THE YELLOW JACKET 

sharpens a sword to cut the thread that holds- him 
to this Hfe. 

Chee Moo 

I dreamed it and so I fled. 

Ling Won 

I sent that dream; little Wu Hoo Git would 
have passed to us had it not been that his great- 
grandmother, the other half of my spirit-self, 
sewed a stitch in the brain of Lee Sin, the farmer, 
so that he could not pick up the thread of thought 
woven there by Wu Sin Yin, your husband, who 
had ordered the murder of the little Wu Hoo Git. 

Chee Moo 

Horrified: 

Too terrible ! Oh, oh, I could fill a crystal vase 
with a mother's tears. 

Ling Won 

I come to break the cr}^stal vase of a mother's 
tears that would drown her boy. 

Chee Moo 
What shall I do? 




COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY ARNOLD GENTHE 



Chee Moo. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 45 

Ling Won 

Send the august Wu Hoo Git on his world 

journey alone. 

Chee Moo 

You would not take the little Wu Hoo Git, for 
you have a woman's heart within your breast and 
know a mother's meaning. 

Ling Won 

You must come to us that Wu Hoo Git may 
live to the glory of the Emperor. 

Chee Moo 

But he will lose his way without a mother's 

care and love. 

Ling Won 

The future is for the gods ; we are spirits and 

know only the path back to the moon whence he 

came. His steps are toward the sun, whither he 

goes. 

Chee Moo 

Let me go with him. 

Ling Won 

Not so. Wu Sin Yin would know you, for 



46 THE YELLOW JACKET 

you are grown. He is so little that he looks like 
other babes and may escape. 

Chee Moo 

But he needs a mother to feed and look after 

him. 

Ling Won 

The ravens will feed him ; the eagles will show 
him the mountain peaks ; the humming-birds will 
tell him the names of the flowers along his path; 
the goldfish will show him whither the streams 
flow straight. And a maiden will arise to teach 
him the story of love. Fear not. The Gods of 
Mercy and of Love will hold his hands. 

Chee Moo 

My Wu Hoo Git — ^my little Wu Hoo Git. 
Your mother's heart melts for you. 

Ling Won 

He will go up and up and up, till he wears the 
sun-hued garment. 

Chee Moo 

The sun-hued garment! My Wu Hoo Git. 

To spirit: 



THE YELLOW JACKET 47 

Leave me not. My heaven-descended son of 
the morning fades in my arms as you fade. He 
goes from me into the glory of paleness, while I 
cry out for his peaceful rest. 

Ling Won 

The evil lines only wrought by demon cunning 

fade from his cheeks before the light of a new 

soul day. The cramped and evil thoughts born 

of his father's life flee before the sword thrusts 

of good thoughts which a mother marshals to 

cradle him. 

Chee Moo 

You go from me ! 

Ling Won 

Write Wu Hoo Git's name and history on his 

coat and come to us. Farewell — we must depart 

into the shadows. 

Spirit retires. 
Chee Moo 

Leave me not — oh, leave me not ! 

Laughing and crying: 

Wu Hoo Git, my Wu Hoo Git. I am a willow 
weeping over the stream of my own life-blood. I 
will write your name on your gannent in a moth- 



48 THE YELLOW JACKET 

er's blood that the life of the mother's veins from 
which you sprang may enter into and become a 
part of your soul. 

Chee Moo here bites the second Jhiger of 
her left hand until the blood comes, 
which she allows to drop into the palm 
of her hand; then dips the finger-nail of 
her right hand into the blood and writes 
on the white under-garment of the child, 
sobbing during the speech. 

My baby — ^my boy ! 

Writes: 

This is Wu Hoo Git, pure and perfect, now, de- 
creed to live ten thousand years. A mother's 
tears, falling as rain from heaven, will fill the 
valleys across his path that his life-boat may float 
from mountain peak to mountain peak and con- 
found his enemies who follow after. More words 
in the mother's blood — I grow weak. 

Ancestors guard you, 

Love embrace you. 

Stops. To spirit, wJw is gone: 

Will I hear his baby cry and not be able to come 
to him ? Must I see the tears in his baby eyes and 
not be able to wipe them away? 



THE YELLOW JACKET 49 

Ling Won 

Outside: 
Yes. Yes. 

Chee Moo 

The mother who would give all and does give 

all — ^the ink in my veins runs out. Every drop 

must go to the boy. 

Writes: 

Be kind to her who gives you love. Hope, pray, 
fight, live — ^to make others happy. The last drop, 

— the last drop in my veins to tell the story of 

I 

my boy and put a prayer on his garment. All — 
my baby boy — all ! A mother's love ! I can not 
let you go. Your baby hands cling about my 
heart. The light grows as gentle as the light of 
dreams. Wu Hoo Git — my baby — ^my Wu Hoo 
Git. 

She now becomes faint with the loss of 
blood and sinks to the stage. Property 
man and his assistant bring ladder and 
place it at center of upper opening, 
Chee Moo rises and climbs up four 
rungs of the ladder. Property man 
holds ladder. 

Chorus 

She climbs to Heaven. 



50 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Music. Enter door left, Suey Sin Fah, 
followed by Lee Sin; come center, see 
child, hilt take no notice of ladder or 
Chee Moo, 

Suey Sin Fah 

What babe is this ? I see not the mother. 

Lee Sin 

His name is writ in blood upon his garment. 
*Tis Wu Hoo Git ! We will fly with him. 

Exeunt with child, door right. 

Chee Moo 

On Heaven ladder, climbing farther up. 

My Wu Hoo Git ! Your mother will never see 

you wear the sun-hued garment, but she will 

know. 

Tableau Curtain 

Note. At end of act, in place of curtain 
calls, the Chorus comes before the blue 
curtain and offers thanks in the name of 
the company. 

Chorus 

Appearing : 

I bow and thank you in the name of my broth- 
ers of the Pear Tree Garden for the kindness you 



THE YELLOW JACKET 51 

have shown. I ask indulgence. I would permit 
them to appear and voice their thanks did not tra- 
dition forbid. I shall tell them ; it will put joy in 
their hearts. At the close of our story if they 
still stand in the light of your favor, it will please 
me to permit them to come before you, if you do 
not adulate them too much for their good. I bow. 

Exits. 
Curtain 



ACT II 

After the house curtain is taken up the tableau 
curtains are slightly parted and the property man 
enters. He walks to extreme right, then to ex- 
treme left and hack to center, striking large gong; 
then exits through opening in tableau curtains. 
Orchestra on stage plays short overture. At 
crash of cymbals Chorus appears before the cur- 
tains and bows to right, left and center. 

Chorus 
I come again because I promised. I bow again. 

Bows three times. 

You may rely on my august word, for I deal in 
facts alone uncolored by fancy. My brothers of 
the Pear Tree Garden are not accountable to 
truth, as they speak what the author of our 
play, — I will advise you later of him, — ^^has set 
down for them to speak. Authors and poets color 
the truth by the prettiness of their fancy. I bow 
to them, however, telling you to beware of them, 

52 



THE YELLOW JACKET 53 

for I derive my opportunity from the soaring of 
their imagination to present my august self to 
you. To this extent authors are magnificently 
worthy. Wu Sin Yin, the evil father, was unable 
to kill his august son, Wu Hoo Git. This celestial 
young prince had dwelt twelve moons, when last 
you heard his baby cry of parting with his honor- 
able and august mother, Chee Moo, who took her 
passage heavenward in your glorious presence. 
But time has honorably pursued its venerable way. 
Wu Hoo Git has grown into youthful manhood, 
and stands at the portal of flowery life. He must 
pluck the azaleas of youth and observe them 
wither at the touch of his golden finger-nails. 
He must know the temple of the body before his 
body knows the temple of his mind. 

Bell sounds off. 

The great bell calls me — as it calls him. The 
bell-maker cast it of pure gold and silver, but its 
note proved brazen. The Son of Heaven was su- 
premely annoyed. The bell-maker recast it. 
When the metal was molten, to save her father's 
life, for fear its note might again carry base tones, 
his daughter disposed of her body by springing 
into the mass of white heat; so her soul became 
of the bell wrought by her father. The metals 



54 THE YELLOW JACKET 

welded with her spirit, and its tone was then one 
of virtuous harmony and love. Wu Hoo Git, 
too, must pass through molten life, that the fires 
may purify his soul and weld it into the purest 
strain. I augustly bow ; you honorably listen. 

Chorus turns his back to audience, makes 
gesture with his fan. At crash of cym- 
bals, tableau curtains are drawn. 
Chorus nozif goes up to table, center. 
Property man discovered seated on stool 
in center of stage. When music stops, 
property man arises, indicates to Chorus 
that scene is set and crosses to left. 
Chorus then speaks. 

Chorus 

'Tis the home of Lee Sin, the farmer; though 
humble in appearance, it is crowded with riches. 

Music. Enter Suey Sin Fah, left. She 
comes down left, opens imaginary door, 
steps over the door-sill, closes door, 
crosses to center and stands in front of 
stool before speaking. 

Suey Sin Fah 

It is the twentieth anniversary of the birth of 
Wo Hoo Git, who has grown into beautiful 
manhood. The Goddess of Mercy — Kuan Yin 
— she who hears prayers and is the giver of 
children — has given me no baby of my own to 



THE YELLOW JACKET 55 

care for, but in secret mercy has given me Wu 
Hoo Git to foster-mother. When I thought I 
held a babe and the breath of childhood was 
sweet, I looked and the flower had bloomed. 
Youth sprang from my arm-petals to laugh and 
run and play the first games of life. A few days 
give the first farewell to the mother's arms, a 
few months and the babe is a babe no more, a 
few years and our mother journey is done. We 
look in the mirror of the past with the gray upon 
our temples, and we find strong arms to protect 
us where we had protected the helpless babe. The 
boy runs away. He promises to return. He 
thinks he will return to the mother breast. You 
may think that all is well with Wu Hoo Git, but 
it is not so. Due Jung Fah's son, the Daffodil, 
grown to man, bars the way to Wu Hoo Git and 
his world-place. Like all adolescent boys, Wu 
Hoo Git longs for the world and its dangers. If 
he leaves our sheltering care, he will never return 
to the mother breast except in memory. I wor- 
ship my soul alone. 

Sits on stool, center. Music. Enter Lee 
Sin, door left. Carries hoe over shoul- 
der, wears a heard. Comes down left, 
opens imaginary door, steps over sill, 
closes the door, crosses to right. 



56 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Lee Six 

Prosperity is mine. My ox ploughs the field 
and it grows pearly with rice. You touch the 
loom and it weaves rich fabrics. We dwell in the 
glor\- of our beautiful foster-child. 

Suey Sin Fah, going to him, puts one arm 
about his neck and covers her face with 
the other hand. 

Suey Sin Fah 

The august Wu Hoo Git has gone forever. 

Lee Sin 

Not SO- Tell me not so. I murdered for him. 
Could a father do more? 

Suey Sin Fah 

The string of our kite is broken and the kite 
drops down from its heaven-kissed place past the 
horizon. He is grown, and longs for the paths of 
pleasure where the way is piled with himgry e\41 
gods. He demands the shadows of his past. He 
cries for his ancestors and we dare not give them 
to him. We must put him from his purpose or 
the evil-bom son of the second wife. Due Jung 
Fah, will pursue and slay him. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 57 

Lee Sin 

Fear not! He is not of the common horde 
whose palm is dulled to pleasure by hard toil. He 
is august and needs the luxury of the joy of liv- 
ing. The gods rain favors of grace and beauty 
and perfumed paths on such as he. Remember 
whence he sprang. His treasure chest is full of 
gold which the gods gave to feed his glorious 
appetite. Soon the man's life journey to match 
his exalted station must call him. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Still I fear. I must wait by the hearthstone, 
where he will never play again. Never again will 
he make my knees his ancestral tablets and coo his 
baby prayer to them. 

Lee Sin 

Neither spirits nor Due Jung Fah's son can 
harm him now. 

Crosses to left. Opens imaginary door. 

Look! He comes like the sun over the eastern 
hill. He brings a new day to us. 

Crosses to right again. Music. Enter 
door left, Wu Hoo Git. 



58 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

Strikes picture in doorway. Comes down 
left. Leaps over imaginary door-sill 
and crosses to center. 

I am Wu Hoo Git ! I am tired of classics. I 
long for the free air of life. 

Lee Sin 

You will not find contentment there. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Then where shall I find contentment ? 

Lee Sin 

In hard work and pure love. 

Wu Hoo Git 

And where will I find pure love ? 

SuEY Sin Fah 

In a mother's arms. 

Lee Sin 

In a wife's embrace. 

Wu Hoo Git 

The woman answers one way, the man an- 



THE YELLOW JACKET 59 

other. In the world there are many answers. I 
must hear them all to judge. 

Lee Sin 
Go not from us. Be counseled by a father. 

SuEY Sin Fah 
And by a mother's love. 

Wu Hoc Git 

Where is my real mother waiting ? Where does 
my real father reside ? 

Lee Sin 

Confused: 

Our love withholds much that you will know in 

time. 

Wu Hog Git 

In time — always in time. I have played hide- 
and-seek with the sun-rays and the moon-rays, I 
have laughed from the mountain peak at the ty- 
phoon sweeping the valley below. But when I 
ask you for my ancestral tablets you tell me to 

wait. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Till wisdom comes. 



6o THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

Why should I be denied? A babe knows its 
mother. I demand my parents. I feel the blood 
of eagles in my veins. I demand, I say! 

Lee Sin 

I can not. 

SuEY Sin Fah 
I will not yet. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Then I go to find them. 

Goes tip right to door. 

Even at the portals of high Heaven. My purse 

is full, but without my ancestors, I dwell not in 

honor. 

Lee Sin 

The world is large and you know not the dan- 
gers that will cross your stumbling way. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I fear not. I am grown to be an august man. 

Large gong. Music. Exits door right, 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Going up toward door right. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 6i 

Wu Hoo Git, my Wu Hoo Git ! Come back to 
me! Oh, go not away, my boy! Rest here 
cradled in my love. Permit me to rock you to 
sleep to the song of gentle breezes and the tune of 
tiny bells. 

Lee Sin 

Goes to Suey Sin Fah. Puts arm around 
her. 

He has the call of the world now and must an- 
swer. 

They exeunt door right. Property man's 
assistants place four stools in a row 
across stage with spaces between them. 
Take two stools from left and place 
them right of stool which is at center; 
take one stool from wall left and place it 
left of stool center. Property man then 
makes gesture to Chorus and crosses to 
left. 

Chorus 

Rises. 

Tis the flowery way of pleasant evenings. He 
comes! Wu Hoo Git's rival, the Daffodil, cod- 
dling his brain with dark thoughts. 

Sits. 



62 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Music. Enter Daffodil preceded by two 
attendants, one carries large red ban- 
ner, the other large fan. They stand 
either side of door left. He strikes at- 
titude in doorway with fan, turns 
around slozvly and as he faces front 
again property man drops sword on bot- 
tom of property box. Expression of 
pain crosses DaffodiVs face. He crosses 
to center. Property man brings bouquet 
of flowers for him to smell, standing 
left of him. 

Wu Fah Din 



I advise this honorable audience that I am a 
man, though I possess a daffodil nature. I go 
to view delightful embroideries, but retard my 
footsteps, that you may observe my charm. I 
was born great. Wu Sin Yin was my father, and 
Due Jung Fah, the second wife, my mother. A 
wonderful alliance, as I am the superb result. 

Property man holds flowers for him to 
smell again. 

I am, therefore, the rival of Wu Hoo Git, who 
dwells, it is whispered, in an humble mountain 
home, whence he will go forth to seek his world- 
place. I am not happy while he dwells anywhere 
■ — so he must not dwell. He is simply vulgarly 



THE YELLOW JACKET 63 

manly, while I possess feminine qualities of great 
luxuriance. 

Smells flowers again. Property man 
draws them away from him and puts 
them in box left. Property man then 
sits and reads Chinese paper. 

I would contend with him, man to Daffodil, but it 

might break my finger-nails and establish a bad 

precedent. You may think the match unequal, 

because of my delicacy in a contest with brawn; 

but I assure you that it is not so. Craft, guided 

by cruelty, outweighs vulgar manliness. I must 

contrive to destroy his honesty and cleanness of 

life. 

Attendant fans him with large fan. 

I will call to my aid Yin Suey Gong, whom you 
will meet and know, by the hump on his back. I 
will have him present his porcelains to the unsus- 
pecting Wu Hoo Git. He deals deliciously in 
porcelains. He will drop flowers of pleasure in 
Wu Hoo Git's path that my rival may inhale their 
odors of vice. Observe how I contend with 
brawn. 

Music. Attendants go up right and exeunt. 
Daffodil goes up toward door as he 
speaks. 



64 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Cut the flowers in my path that I may walk. 

Exits door right. Music changes. Enter 
door left, Yin Suey Gong. Carries staff. 
Music continues during speech. 

Yin Suey Gong 

Comes down to center bowing. 

I am Yin Suey Gong of the monkey form. 
The air was lukewarm when I came, ghost clouds 
were racing the wind. I was dusted by butterfly 
wings along my path. Bringing pleasure to the 
owner of gold is my business. A dragon yawned 
and belched me forth. A tooth caught me and I 
was born cramped of back. I give those who 

were born straight 

Chuckles. 

and august of face the world's pleasures. Then to 
avenge myself on mother nature, who distorted 
me, I pluck down their star and delight in its fall. 

Chuckles. 

I watch the flower lanterns of their vanity bum 
till the ribs stick out like skeletons. Then I laugh, 
for they are crooked in purse and without love. 
I flatter them till I have them in my grasp, then 
I mock at them, for they are fools. I deal with 



THE YELLOW JACKET 65 

the fair and they become crooked-brained. I jug- 
gle hearts. I toss them in the air and cross them 
and dance them on my finger-tips and catch them 
on my upturned nose. Sometimes one falls and 
leaves a blood spot where it fell. Then I gurgle 
and juggle on, for hearts are my currency and a 
few marred and broken ones are easily replaced. 

\Vu Fah Din 

Enters J comes down left and crosses to 
right, dropping folded red paper, zvhich 
represents a Chinese check. Backs up 
stage to door right as he speaks. 

Wu Hoo Git approaches. Enmesh him. Tar- 
nish him. It must be done with perfume, and 

gently. 

Exits. 

Yin Suey Gong 

Center. 

I shall approach with my arms full of presents 
for the adolescent Wu Hoo Git. 

Music. Enter Wu Hoo Git. Door left. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Coining down left. 
WHiere do I find mvself ? 



66 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Yin Suey Gong 

In the land where the honey is sweet and the 
bees have lost their sting. 

Wu Hoo Git 
What is this land ? 

Yin Suey Gong 

Bows going up to him. 

This is the land of perfumed pleasure. Where 
the cups are filled with silver rice-wine and the 
lips of love are heavy with greetings and your 
every desire is answered. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Its story has been traced on a sweet-meat jar. 
But it is not the land I seek, for it tells not of my 
ancestors. 

Moves a little right. Turns back to audi- 
ence. 

Yin Suey Gong 

You are augustly wise. You are old and 
learned. I bow to the august magnificence of 
your dress, the delicacy of the golden guards to 



THE YELLOW JACKET 67 

your honorable finger-nails, your wonderful jew- 
elry of amber — your astute wisdom — 

Wic Hoo Git shuts eyes in delight at flat- 
tery. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I am transcendently wise. 

Yin Suey Gong 

Your boots will surely decorate a city's gates 
when you have passed to your ancestors. You 
are old for your age. The world and life will 
make you older. Dreams await you. I greet you 
and lay the world at your feet. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I would put you in a seat of friendship beside 

me. 

Yin Suey Gong 

There are only two things to please the taste of 

an august man like you. 

Bowing. 

Some will tell you in deceit that there are many 
things to please, but there are only two. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Only two in the broad world, to people my 
pleasure ? 



68 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Yin Suey Gong 

Only two. You may travel, you may study, 
you may know, but pearly wine and luscious 
women are all that you will find. Some far coun- 
tries boast of the dance, but it is a part of woman. 
Our august land oft speaks in song, but that, too, 
is sweet from the lips of woman only. It is not 
the note or string. It is the lips that sing. To 
know wine and women is rarer far than to know 
classics. The great scholars know this 

Bows. 

but praise not my honesty. 

Turns away right. 

Wu Hoo Git 

You make me wonder. I have learned philos- 
ophy. But it concerns me not in my search for 

my ancestors. 

Starts toward door right. 

Yin Suey Gong 

Be tutored by glorious woman, the rims of 
whose rice wine-cups are crystallized with kisses. 

Moves away a little. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 69 

Wu Hoo Git 

What are kisses? 

Yin Suey Gong 

The meeting of the pollen of two flowers that 
float to each other on a heaven-sent breeze. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Such an august meeting must make the sweet- 
est incense for the gods. 

Yin Suey Gong 

It does — only the evil one more often catches 
the breath. 

Wu Hoo Git 
And why? 

Yin Suey Gong 

The gods have others taste the sweets first for 
fear of poison. 

Wu Hoo Git 

But there can be no poison in the meeting of 
the flowers. 

Yin Suey Gong 
There may be birth and birth leads to death. 



70 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Music. During zvhich Wu Hoo Git 
crosses to left. Listening. Yin Suey 
Gong zvatches the effect on him. 

Love birds, flowers of happiness, come to garden 
your pleasure. They will teach you life, rarer 
than philosophy, richer than classics. 

Enter door left four flower-girls at music 
cue. Strike picture in doorivay, how 
forward, then to left. They cross and 
stand above stools. 

To your sale thrones, my princesses fair! 

Girls come to below stools, backs to audi- 
ence. They mount at music cue, with 
the help of the assistant property men. 
Girls then turn front, fans still before 
their faces. 

Wu Hoo Git 

When music stops, crosses to center. 

How modest they are ! Fans before their rose 

faces ! 

Looks at girls, delighted. 

I am glad I came to this world. It makes smil- 
ing in my heart. 

Yin Suey Gong 
It has pleased many. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 71 

Wu Hoo Git 
By what charm do women hold us enchained? 

Yin Suey Gong 
Wise men have wondered. 

Laughs, moves right, 
Wu Hoo Git 
May I approach them with my voice ? 

Yin Suey Gong 
And get strange answers ! 

Wu Hoo Git 

How many moons have passed since you 
graced the earth ? 

See Quoe Fah 

Dropping fan. 

Sixteen years of moons. 

Wu Hoo Git 
Put up your fan ! Who are youf 

Mow Dan Fah 
A peony flower. 



y2 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

Then you will fade. 

Mow Dan Fah 

Pick me while my perfume lasts. 

Wu Hoo Git 

You are as dainty as the embroidery on an 
Empress's gown. 

Frightened, she puts fan over her face. 
Wu Hoo Git moves to Yin Suey Gong. 

May I speak to the next one ? 

Yin Suey Gong 

The gods painted many that man might choose 

one! 

Wu Hoo Git 

Starts to go up right. 

Let me go back to philosophy and my ancestors. 

Yin Suey Gong 

Stopping him. 
And never know life? 

Wu Hoo Git 

To third girl, who lowers fan. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 73 

She tipped her fan to me. I saw her eyes. I 
will wait and talk to her. Her hands are like pen- 
ciled porcelain. She has the color of plum-tree 
buds. Are you — just like the other? 

YoNG Soo Kow 

I was kissed by a more southern sun. 

Wu Hog Git 

Then two flowers met and a — a child was 

born? 

Ygng Sgg Kow 

You were not one of the flowers ! 

Wu Hog Git 

What means she? 

Yin Suey Gong 

A sunbeam played upon her hydrangea lip. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Excited: 

And danced in her eye and painted her cheek ? 
Yin Suey Gong 

You should have been the sunbeam. She in- 
vites you. 



74 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

This was never taught me in philosophy. How 

much there is to learn ! 

Indicating fourth girl. 

That one coughed. 

Sighs. 

Send her to the Drug Hall of Propitious Mu- 
nificence for the Great Blessing Pill, or the 
Double Mystery Pill, or the Thousand Gold Pill 
for maidens. I suffer to see her suffer. 

Yin Suey Gong 

Her cough is a gentle salutation. She fears 
you may go astray if you talk too long to her 
august sisters. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Delighted, whispering : 

Does she think so much of me? I like her. 
She has a mother's heart. 

Yin Suey Gong 

They all have mother-hearts. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I never had a mother. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 75 

Crosses down center. Turns hack to audi- 
ence, looking at girls. 

Now I have four. 

Music. Girls sing. At end of song short 
dance. The girls turn around on stools 
and face front again. During song Wu 
Hoo Git crosses to left. At end of 
dance he speaks. 

She sings with Hps that part like opening roses. 
My foster-mother never sang Hke that. The 
blood runs faster in my veins. 

. Crosses to Yin Suey Gong. 

I feel something here that beats. 

Yin Suey Gong 

That is your heart. Philosophy knows nothing 

of it. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I like her. She is so sweetly made — round and 
soft and delicate — like a vase we would embrace 
for fear it might fall and shatter its loveliness. 

Yin Suey Gong 
You may hold her and embrace her beauties. 



76 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

I might let her fall and shatter her dainty 
roundness. 

Yin Suey Gong 

You will learn in time. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Tries. 

But my arms may not be strong enough. 

Yin Suey Gong 
Hers were made to help you. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Crosses to Chow Wan, left; awkwardly 

emh'aces her. 
Other girls lower fans and look at him. 

He then crosses hack to Yin Suey Gong. 

It is easier than I thought. She grows more 
delicately beautiful. She is sweeter than the 
rarest vase. I like the holding of her. Her 
breath is incense. 

Yin Suey Gong 

You may taste her lips. 



THE YELLOW JACKET >jj 

He crosses to Chow Wan again, ingenu- 
ously kisses her and crosses hack to Yin 
Suey Gong. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Sweetmeats rare. 

Starts to kiss Chow Wan again, stopped 
by Yin Suey Gong. 

Yin Suey Gong 

I will sell her to you. 

iWu Hoo Git 
Is she for sale? 

Yin Suey Gong 
Ever)^hing I possess is for sale. 

iWu Hoo Git 

Would you keep none for yourself? 

Yin Suey Gong 

I would be selfish to retain such delicate wares. 
All perfumed flowers may be cut by a golden 
knife. They wait upon the market for your de- 
sire. 

Bowing. 



Astonished. 



78 THE YELLOW JACKET • 

Wu Hoo Git 

I will buy them all. 

Yin Suey Gong 

Like most men you would have them all, but, 
if you purchase four maids, you would sell three, 
or present them to your friends. 

Wu Hoo Git 

With inspiration. Moves left. 

Then I will buy her who coughs. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Girls drop fans and put them up quickly. 

They dropped their fans and looked at me. I 
never felt such a delicate shock. It is like read- 
ing the classics at one glance by the light of ray- 
tailed comets. May they do it again? 

Yin Suey Gong 
Not till you purchase. 

Wu Hoo Git 
And what must I pay ? 



THE YELLOW JACKET 79 

Yin Suey Gong 
All you have in your chased gold purse. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Crosses to Yin Suey Gong, right. 

But I have nine thousand taels! What shall I 
do when I give them all to you? 

Yin Suey Gong 

Send home for more like every august son who 
would see the world. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Turns left looking at purse. 
Nine thousand taels for a mother! 
Chow Wan 

I am worth more. 

He looks up at her. 
You will find it so. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Drops purse. 



8o THE YELLOW JACKET 

Take my purse, most gracious Yin Suey Gong. 

Goes to Chow Wan, left. 

Lee Sin will send me more. She would suffer so 
alone. 

Music. Three girls turn on stools with 
backs to audience and descend, assisted 
by the property man, and exeunt door 
right. Yin Suey Gong follows them up 
to door and turns, looking at Wu Hoo 
Git. Wu Hoo Git helps Chow Wan off 
of stool. 

They do not smile on me. 

Yin Suey Gong 

The evil one fans them with jealousy. You did 
not buy them, too. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Are they angry? 

Yin Suey Goxg 

They are filled with humility. Farewell ! 

Aside. 

He drowns in the vase of pleasure. The Daffodil 
will smile. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 8i 

'Exits right, laughing. Property man's as- 
sistants push four stools together, then 
bring four chairs and place them back of 
stools, touching them. An assistant 
exits right but returns immediately with 
two bamboo poles to be used as oars. 
Hands one to another assistant and they 
stand a little above and to the right of 
the chairs. Property man gets drapery 
and places it over back of chairs. Then 
he places tzvo cushions on the stools 
which he gets from left near property 
box. Music stops when Wii Hoo Git 
speaks. 

Wu Hoo Git 

By what sweet name are you called? 

Taking her hand. 

Chow Wan 

Chow Wan, Autumn Cloud. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Dropping her hand, backing away. 

That's augustly pretty. What shall I do with 
you now I have bought you ? 

Chow Wan 

Goes to him, places head on his shoulder. 



82 THE YELLOW JACKET 

I will teach you. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Your voice is like an honorable zephyr. Bring 

it closer ! 

Puts arm about her. 

Chow Wan 

You are learning. 

Wu Hoo Git 

But you have not taught me a thing that I could 
behold. 

Chow Wan 

The gods have taught you many things that you 
can feel yet know not of. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I do not understand, but I like you better than 

philosophy. 

Chow Wan 

When you have said farewell to me, you will be 
a wiser philosopher. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Backs away from her. 
Must we part ? 



'W* 



THE YELLOW JACKET 83 

Starts to embrace her, she evades him, 
crosses to center below. 

Chow Wan 

Not for many perfumed days. 

Property man makes gesture to Chorus 
who rises. 

Chorus 

'Tis a flower boat which floats upon a silver 
river of love. 

Chow Wan seats herself on cushion of 
boat and invites Wn Hoo Git to enter. 

Chow Wan 

Come with me in the flower boat and float 
among the lotus plants while the night birds perch 
on the moon-rays and sing to us, and I answer 
their song. 

He gets into the boat. After he is set- 
tled two assistants with poles pretend to 
row the boat. Musician rubs two pieces 
of sandpaper together in time with the 
strokes. 

Wu Hoo Git 
You think of such sweet ways to wander from 



84 THE YELLOW JACKET' 

the minutes of the third day of the third moon to 
the fourth day of the third moon. 

Chow Wan 

In my arms you will wander ten thousand 

years. 

Wu Hoo Git 

His arm about her, 

I wish your three sisters had stayed with us. It 
would have warmed their hearts to see us thus. 

She drops her fan^. 

Chow Wan 

You are so worldly-wise. 

Fans herself slowly. 

They would have purred with delight 

Wu Hoo Git 

Song off stage. 

The silver sails fill with the summer breeze. 
Wild bells tinkle in my august veins. I never 
heard them there before. 

Chow Wan 

Turns away from him. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 85 

See the lotus lanterns on the water wafting 
their candle-light to us ! 

Wu Hog Git 

Starts up. 

This is the night of love. Let not the morning 

come. 

Chow Wan 

A love boat passes us in the moonlight. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Looking. She follows imaginary boat from 
left to right with her hand. 

It holds a woman and a man in sweet embrace. 
It is the lotus-lipped fan girl I met with you. 

Chow Wan 

Yin Suey Gong has sold her to him. 

They follow the imaginary boat with their 
eyes. Wii Hoo Git zvith his hand around 
to right holds picture until song off 
stage stops. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I should have bought her and saved her from 
him. 



86 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Chow Wan 
Your gold is not enough for one. 

She puts head on his shoulder. 
Let us land for more. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Wait until the night is passed. 

Chow Wan 

No ! We will find it sweeter in my home. You 
fill the purse for the fruits, cakes and candies. I 
will shadow the lanterns and draw the silken cur- 
tains to await your coming. 

He starts to embrace her. She stops him. 

I have more to teach you. 

At gesture from Wu Hoo Git the assistants 
stop rowing. They get out of boat. 
Music stops. Assistants with bamboo 
poles exeunt right. Property man takes 
drapery away. Assistants remove chairs. 
The fourth stool is left in center of the 
stage zvith red cushion on it. Property 
man, after gesture to Chorus, sits left. 
Assistants now exeunt left. 

Fill your purse. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 87 

Wu Hoo Git 

It takes so much money to love, my Autumn 
Cloud. 

Music, he exits right. Chow Wan watch- 
ing him exit. 

Chow Wan 

He has flown on wings of swiftness for a sec- 
ond purse full. 

She crosses at hack to left. 

Chorus 

Rising. 
'Tis a love nest. 

Chow Wan opens imaginary door, steps 
over sill, closes door, and sits on stool 
center. Music continues. 

Chow Wan 

He has flown on wings of swiftness for a sec- 
ond purse full. I must wait at home alone. 
I will change my gown to one of softer silk; 
dress my head like a princess for my Wu Hoo 
Git. Bring me lanterns of blue and pink that 
their light may tint the eye glance of him who 
comes. Crowd my abode with almond flowers 
and open the lattice so that the moon-rays danc- 



88 THE YELLOW JACKET 

ing on my goldfish pond may make love to 
the lantern's light within. Fill the air with per- 
fumes of sandal-wood. Bring me my handker- 
chief of pale blue embroidered with purple wis- 
taria. I must weep at my Wu Hoo Git's long de- 
lay. Bring my Yeuh Chin that I may be playing 
when his footfall tinkles on the path. Place carved 
wood screens about me that no one may behold 
my beauty but him I wait for. He comes ! He 
comes ! My lover returns with his purse of gold. 

Yin Suey Gong 

Enters door left, comes down, opens im- 
aginary door, steps over sill, closes door 
and goes to Chow Wan. Music stops. 

What do you here alone? 

Chow Wan 

Waiting as becomes me. Wu Hoo Git is filling 
his purse with gold drops. 

Yin Suey Gong 

It is not enough. I can sell you to an emperor. 

Chow Wan 

An emperor I 



THE YELLOW JACKET 89 

Rises. Moves down right a little and 
stands with hack to audience. 

Lead me to his fascinations. 

Yin Suey Gong 

A chair of lacquered gold awaits you. You 
must approach him as becomes his rank. • 

Chow Wan 

Music on moon-gidtar. She goes up to 
door right and turns. 

I will approach him closely. 

Exits door right. Music stops. Property 
man removes stool and cushion to left. 

Yin Suey Gong 

This is my lucky day. I've sold all my porce- 
lains but I must have Wu Hoo Git's second purse 
full to line my treasure sack. I must flatter him 
into another purchase, or my head will smile from 
a bamboo pole at my crooked trunk. My head 
against his purse of gold. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Music. Entering door left, running to left 
center. 



90 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Chow Wan — my Autumn Cloud ! I bring the 
mountain's gold to you. 

Yin Suey Gong 

Your purse is welcome. 

Wu Hoc Git 

Where dwells my honorable Autumn Cloud, — 
Chow Wan? 

Yin Suey Gong 

Drifting in the azure sky after a butterfly's 

perch. I will find you a spring cloud that is 

warmer. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I understand not your speech. 

Yin Suey Gong 

The august Wu Hoo Git has grown so old in 

an hour of pleasure that he has come to man's 

estate and should now follow the pleasures of an 

august man. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I want my Autumn Cloud. 

Yin Suey Gong 
Kite flying is more for the education of a n^an 



THE YELLOW JACKET 91 

who has seen the world and grown weary, as you 
have. 

Wu Hog Git 

But I am not weary. Where is my Chow Wan ? 
I have a purse of jewels for her. 

Yin Suey Gong 

You should be augustly happy, for most men 

who have seen the pleasure path have lost their 

purse. Chow Wan has flown to a daintier nest, 

silk woven. 

Wu Hog Git 

Flown, as the morning light comes to greet our 

love! 

Yin Suey Gong 

I will sell you a more comforting mate. 

Wu Hgg Git 

But I own her heart for I bought my august 
Autumn Cloud with my gold. 

Yin Suey Gong 

I sold her for the gold of another whose purse 

was deeper. 

Wu Hoo Git 

But she is completely mine. The crevices of 



92 THE YELLOW JACKfeT 

her heart are mine to nestle in. She told me so 
herself. You are a thief. 

Yin Suey Gong 

I should not else be supremely wise. 

Wu Hog Git 

Bring back my august other self to me. You 
opened Heaven's doors of love to me, gave me 
the sweets of life — ^the perfumed breath of the 
ages of love. Then you close the doors, and tell 
me to find that joy-light again in other eyes. 

Yin Suey Gong 

You had your hour of fleeting pleasure. Do 
you expect with your small glint of gold to buy a 



lifetime of happiness? 



Wu Hoo Git 

I am grown to man and I can wreak the ven- 
geance of my might on him who steals my bless- 
ings. 

Yin Suey Gong 

Be augustly calm. Woman is merely a matter 
of gold. Give me more than he gave and I will 
buy her back. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 93 

Wu Hoo Git 

From the arms of another? The gods them- 
selves can never make her the same Autumn 
Cloud you stole. 

Yin Suey Gong 

Another will do as well, if you close your ex- 
alted eyes. 

Wu Hoo Git 

You shall change, as she has changed, so that 
all the gods of yesterday and the gods of to-mor- 
row can not right you into what you were. I will 
carve your august hump. 

Yin Suey Gong 

I will give you back your gold for mercy. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I am not for sale. Bring me your honorable 
hump that I may chop it into the likeness of my 
Autumn Cloud. 

Crosses to left. 

Yin Suey Gong 
I will defend my august hump. 



94 THE YELLOW JACKET 

He drops his staff. They stand in attitude 
of fighting. Wu Hoo Git left, Yin Suey 
Gong right. Property man takes short 
double szi'ord in scabbard and one short 
single sword in scabbard out of prop- 
erty box, crosses to center, hands double 
szvord to Yin Suey Gong, single sword 
to Wu Hoo Git and retires to left. Dur- 
ing fight musician comes down to center 
below Chorus' table and works cymbals. 
Cymbals crash zvith the striking of 
swords. The zvhole fight is conducted 
in a slozv methodical manner, with 
much turning. Wu Hoo Git finally cuts 
off the hump of Yin Suey Gong, tak- 
ing red bag from under his coat, and he 
sinks to the stage in a sitting position 
back toward the left. Property man 
places pillow for Yin Suey Gong in 
wrong position. He motions him to 
bring it closer, which property man does 
with his foot. 

Yin Suey Gong nozv lies down, making 
himself quite comfortable. Wu Hoo 
Git stands over him, and as he holds 
red bag up at arm's length loud crash of 
cymbals. Wu Hoo Git then crosses to 
left and victoriously gives his sword to 
property man. 

Chow Wan enters left, stands near door- 
way. 

Wu Hoo Git 
Going up to her left center near door. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 95 

Enfold me in your arms. Taste my lips again. 
Chow Wan, my Autumn Cloud. 

Embracing her. 

Chow Wan 

Bitterly: goes down, kneels and leans over 
body of Yin Suey Gong. 

You have killed my Yin Suey Gong. Who will 
sell me now? Evil spirits clutch at you. Depths 
of night enfold you. 

Falls over body weeping. 

Wu Hog Git 

I departed his hump for selling you from me. 

Chow Wan 
He got more adorable gold than you could give. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Crossing right at back. 

Gold is not the measure of the heart. 

Chow Wan 

Go into the pleasure world and see. M}'' 
monkey, my Yin Suey Gong, my beautiful Yin 
Suey Gong. 



96 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

Console yourself, 

Chow Wan looks at him. 

I am not going to kill him again. 

Girls enter left and cross down to body of 
Yin Suey Gong. 

Chow Wan 

He has killed our master ! 

Girls 
Killed him !> 

All kneel. See Qiioe Fah, left of Chow 
Wan, Mow Dan Fah, right of Chow 
Wan, Yong Soo Kow left of See Quae 
Fah. 

Our poor Yin Suey Gong. 

Chow Wan 

Pathetically: 

Who will traffic in our love now ? 

Wu Hoo Git 

Gold is the measure of your affection. Your 
hearts are outbalanced in the scales by a grain of 
yellow dust in the heart traffic of him I slew. I 
repent his death for in an evil way he was a tutor 



THE YELLOW JACKET 97 

who taught me pleasure; though a traffic not 
smiled upon by the gods, it must have some pur- 
pose for good or it would not be. May he glory 
in his ancestors ! 

Chow Wan 

You have no ancestors. 

The Girls 
No ancestors ? 

Wu Hoc Git 

I have tarried too long in the way of pleasure. 
I go to seek my ancestors. I give him back his 
hump. 

Throws red hag on stage. Exits door right. 
Chow Wan 

He is monkey-shaped and can walk upon the 

clouds. 

Girls hold hands up. 

He is above human. Put back his hump and he 
will live again to traffic in our hearts. His superb 
breath returns. His honorable eyes roll to us. 
We will be sold again. 

Mow Dan Fah gives red bag to Chow 
Wan. 



98 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Yin Suey Gong 

Coming to life. During scene when Yin 
Suey Gong comes to life, music effects. 

Restore my honorable hump — 

Chow Wan places it under his coat, 

that I may breathe deHcious breath. 

Sighs, 
He cut it off. 

Chow Wan 

Wu Hoo Git. He will perish for his deed. 
He has no ancestors to pray to. 

Yin Suey Gong 

No ancestors ! No ancestors ! 

He rises, picking up staff. Girls rise and 
back away up right. 

I am augustly avenged ! To the market place for 
hearts. 

Girls exeunt right followed by Yin Suey 
Gong to door. Property man kicks 
death pillow to assistant left. Then 
picks up two swords. Puts them in 
scabbards in box left. 

Chorus 

Rises. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 99 

The Daffodil, tired of waiting for results, visits 
Yin Suey Gong. 

Wu Fah Din 

Enters left, follozved by attendant, who 
carries red silk cord and stands up cen- 
ter. 

Where is the pleasure you promised me? 
Where are the delightful tintinnabulations of joy 
at his undoing ? Feast my eyes. 

Yin Suey Gong 

He has gone. 

Wu Fah Din 

Lead me to his destruction. 

Yin Suey Gong 

He has gone to seek his ancestors. 

Wu Fah Din 

A cord about his neck. 

Attendant comes doimi, places cord around 
Yin Suey Gong's neck. 

Twist it, that I may see his lying tongue swell 
from his mouth. 



loo THE YELLOW JACKET 

Yin Suey Gong 

Time, give me time. When the arrow misses 
you do not throw the bow awa}'-, but send another 
shaft on truer lines. I will contrive his ruin. 

Wu Fah Din 

Give me the cord. 

Takes end of cord. 

Follow to the palace. 

Starts up for door right. 

Yin Suey Gong 

The scarf chafes my neck. 

Wu Fah Din 

It remains a gentle reminder, while we contrive 
again. 

Exeunt right. Property man's assistants 
place table with cover center. Chair 
zi'ith cover and small stool on it right of 
table. They exeunt left. 

Chorus 

Rises. 

*Tis the house of Tai Char Shoong, the illustri- 
ous, father of Plum Blossom, the adored heroine 
of this play. 



THE YELLOW JACKET loi 

Enter Plum Blossom (Moy Fah Loy) and 
See Noi left and hold picture in door- 
way. 

Moy Fah Loy 

Come quickly. 

They move dozvn left. Property man 
stands down left with bamboo pole in 
horizontal position across stage. 

From the window of this room we can see him 
pass. 

Wu Hoo Git enters, comes down left, 
crosses below property man to right and 
exits up right. 

See Noi 

What, what, what! 

Moy Fah Loy 

Saw you not the youth of the kite hill? To the 
window! Open the lattice that I may peep. 

See Noi opens imaginary shutters. 

See Noi 

'Tis Wu Hoo Git! Be careful lest he see you. 

Ptdling her up stage. 

Remember your maiden modesty. 



10^ THE YELLOW JACKET 

MoY Fah Loy 

Looking at Wu Hoo Git through imagi- 
nary window. 

Saw you ever one who walks like him with god- 
like mien ? He stands so straight the clouds sep- 
arate to form a pathway for his brain. 

Turns, looks at See Noi. 

He looks not back. His eyes are not for woman, 
but eternities. 

Moy Fah Loy closes imaginary shutters 
and crosses to below table. Property 
man retires left with pole. 

Oh! A madness of dejection enters my fancy 
and chills my heart. 

Enter Tai Char Shoong left. Strikes 
picture in doorzvay. Wood block and 
small gong. Coming dozvn left between 
See Noi and Moy Fah Loy, 

Tai Char Shoong 

See Noi! Let my Plum Blossom be robed in 
richness becoming the birth of my daughter. 

Plum Blossom crosses to See Noi, who 
goes to door with her as she exits left. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 103 

Tai Char Shoong 

Crosses and sits right of table. 

See Noi, I am about to give my daughter in 

betrothal. 

See Noi comes down left. 

See Noi 
I feared it, illustrious master. 

Tai Char Shoong 

How dare you fear what I command! You 
have loosed your tongue to my daughter. 

See Noi 

Frightened: 

No more than she has heard herself; gossip, 
breeze carried through each window lattice. 

Tai Char Shoong 
And of what do busy tongues complain? 

See Noi 

Of the future mother-in-law of her you would 
give in marriage. 

Tai Char Shoong 

A perfect woman, filled with knowledge of 
what a wife should be. 



I04 THE YELLOW JACKE^ 

See Noi 

'Tis whispered her son's first wife died of his 
mother's accomplishments. 

Tai Char Shoong 

What more could she have done for my daugh- 
ter's sake? 

See Noi 

If it must be so, may she possess a hundred 
children and a thousand grandchildren. 

Tai Char Shoong 

It is too few to wish her. 

Music. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Enters left, richly gowned, comes down to 
below table center. Bows. 

Honorable father, I have done your bidding. 

Tai Char Shoong 

He holds out his hand. She comes to him. 

Let a smile of joy dwell upon your lips and be- 
have in your most graceful manner, for the 
Widow of Ching, comes to negotiate for the mar- 
riage of her son. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 105 

MoY Fah Loy 

Turns front. Eyes down, head turned 
azvay. 

I smile in the house of my father, I might weep 
in the home of his friend. 

Tai Char Shoong 

A wife must take what the gods bestow upon 
her. 

Rises. 

Now approaches the august mother-in-law. For- 
get not the courtesies of such a meeting. 

Music. The Widow and maid enter on a 
wheelbarrow trundled by assistant, fol- 
lowed by another with green card. 
They cross down left, then to right 
and up. Assistant presents card to 
Tai Char Shoong, zvho crosses to left, 
then assists them to alight from wheel- 
barrow and exits right. Assistant with 
zvheelbarrozv exits right. 

Widow 

Tai Char Shoong, I bestow upon this house a 
bowo 

Bows. Maid takes small stool off chair 
and as Widow sits, places it under feet 
and retires back of her. 



io6 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Tai Char Shoong 

And I bestow upon the Widow of our great 
mandarin, departed to his ancestors, and the 
mother of our youthful mandarin, a bow. 

All bow again. 

Bring jade cups of tea and pipe. 

Property man brings tray with two tea 
bowls and two cups and Chinese pipe. 
Places tray on table center. Then lights 
pipe and crosses to left and sits. 

Widow 
Is this Moy Fah Loy ? 

MoY Fah Loy 

I am Moy Fah Loy. 

Below table, bowing to her. 

Widow 

Let me observe you. Turn about with graceful 

composure. 

She does so. 

Your hair is arranged complacently; your feet 
are large. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 107 

Tai Char Shoong 

Down left 

That she may walk the easier to attend upon 
her mother-in-law. 

Widow 

Let me observe the nails of your fingers. There 
is a hair left in one eyebrow. It shows careless- 
ness in preparing for my observation. Your 
lips should be painted thinner. Can you em- 
broider ? 

See Noi gives lighted pipe to maid, 

MoY Fah Loy 

Kingfishers and storks. 

Widow 

Good birds, both. 

Maid gives pipe to Widow, 

Can you prepare with daintiness sweetmeats, 
watermelon seeds, rice wine ? 

She puffs pipe. Returns it to maid who 
then hands it to See Noi, who places it 
on table. 



io8 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Tai Char Shoong 



Sadly: 



Her august mother, divinely departed, instruct- 
ed her in the virtues of the home. 

Widow 

Permit me, Tai Char Shoong, to examine into 
your daughter's virtues, as I am augustly versed 
in virtues. You should wait upon me, your 
mother-in-law, with modest obeisance. 

Tai Char Shoong 

Could she be other than a worshipful slave to 
such an honorable mother-in-law ? 

MoY Fah Loy 

There are thirty-six kinds of mother-in-law, 
and she is every kind. 

Widow 

I will bestow upon you because of the excel- 
lence of this house, ten thousand taels, 

Tai Char Shoong 

My house and daughter are illustriously hon- 
ored. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 109 

Widow 

Rises. Maid picks up stool as Widow 
rises and places it on chair. 

We will gracefully take the daughter of Tai 
Char Shoong into our hearts and home. 

Tai Char Shoong 

The splendor of the honor of bestowing such a 
mother-in-law upon my daughter dazzles my 
modest eyes. 

Widow 

I take my departure. You are augustly blessed, 
my Plum Blossom, in having me to guide your 
way, in my illustrious son's house. 

MoY Fah Loy 
Augustly blessed ! 

Widow 

Crossing up to door. Tai Char Shoong 
goes to above table. 

Prepare your gracious self for the six cere- 
monies within three days, for I need your worthy 
service in my home. 



no THE YELLOW JACKET 

Bows and exits, preceded by maid. Tax 
Char Shoong bows and exits up right. 
Property man crosses to table, takes tea 
tray and pipe. Smokes pipe as he crosses 
to left. Places them in box left and sits. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Going to See Noi up right, who holds her 
in her arms. 



My mother-in-law ! 
Bring me poison ! 

See Noi 



Looking up. 



Say not so, honorable one. Think on the 

family. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Lead me to the tablets of my mother that I may 
pray to her and know. 

Music. They exeunt right, property man 
and assistants arrange four chairs across 
stage with backs to audience and a stool 
center. Property man crosses to center 
and superintends placing of chairs. 
Over the backs of the chairs, beginning 
from the right, property man places 
white cloth tablets on which are painted 
in Chinese characters the following 
names: Chum Shoii, Moy Kwai Fah 
Loy, Moy Fah Loy. He gets the two 



THE YELLOW JACKET in 

tablets mixed on the chairs left of stool 
center, and after reading the names 
. changes them. After so placing the tab- 
lets property man sits on stool left, and 
starts to read paper. An assistant enters 
with bozvl of rice. Gives it to property 
man, who smiles and takes it. Assistant 
exits. Property man then bows to 
Chorus who has become annoyed at de- 
lay, and then sits and begins eating rice 
with chop sticks. Music during this 
business. 

Chorus 

'TIs the resting place of the bodies of the de- 
parted. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Enters left, comes right of stool center. 
Music forte until he gets to center, then 
stops. Looks at tablets. 

Here in the city of the dead I will find my im- 
pressive ancestors. I will pray at the tombs for 
the gods to give me an honorable mother. I must 
have had an august father once, for every one, 
they say, has had at least one august father. I 
will pray at the tombs for the gods to give me an 
honorable mother, with a delicate name — one that 
drops like a sweet song from the lips. 

Reads, chair first right. 



112 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Chum Shou, "Graceful Long Life." I like not 
her name. 

Crosses right. 

I will not pray to her. Here is a tomb that is 
deep in the ashes of burned paper money. I will 
dust away the ashes with my solemn breath. 

Blows on tablet, then reads tablet number 
two right. 

Moy Kwai Fah Loy, "Rose Bud." I care not for 
roses. With my solemn breath I cover her again 
with ashes. 

Blozvs breath on tablet, moves to left. 

Here is a quiet ancestral tablet. From within is- 
sues precious light. 

Reads number one left. 

Moy Fah Loy, "Plum Blossom." I like plums 
and I have scented the perfume of their blossoms. 
I will take Plum Blossom for motherhood. 

Property man puts down bowl of rice and 
places cushion before chair left center, 
holding chop sticks in other hand. 

I kneel, 

Does so. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 113 

for I have found an exemplary tablet that con- 
forms to my adorable self. 

Music. 

Plum Blossom mother, to you whom I find late in 
life, my speech choked with tears, my heart weary 
with long suffering, I kneel. 

Property man takes bamboo pole from 
wall left, crosses to right of Chorus' 
table and stands with back to the audi- 
ence — holding pole in perpendicidar po- 
sition. 

Chorus 

'Tis a celestial weeping- willow tree. 

Plum Blossom enters left, crosses to center 
at back and stands just below pole, with 
fan over her face. 

Chorus 

The maiden peeps from the shadow of the tree 

at the youth of her fancy. 

Music stops. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Who kneels at the tablets of my Pum Blossom 
mother? 

Wu Hoo Git 

An august child just born to her. What fairy 



114 THE YELLOW JACKET 

of beauty crosses my prayer! A princess in dress 
and carriage, a lily foot. Light radiates from her 
person and shines through her garments. Raise 
your fan to me. 

MoY Fah Loy 

In surprise does so. Then covers her face 
again. 

I did not mean to do it. 

To audience. 
'Tis he of the kite hill. 

Wu Hog Git 

Painted banner of love! You fill the pockets 
of my eyes with graciousness. I like you. I wish 
that you were buried here that I might take you 
to motherhood. 

MoY Fah Loy 

It is my mother that lies there, and I came to 
burn incense at her tablets. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Rises, goes up to her. 

I will assist your honorable hands. 

MoY Fah Loy 

It is most unholy to speak to a man — ■ 



THE YELLOW JACKET 115 

Wu Hoo Git 

At the grave of our exalted mother? 

MoY Fah Loy 

I like your voice. It is sweet. 

She sits stool center. Property man 
crosses left and places pole against wall 
left and then sits. 

I will be unholy while See Noi, my maid, yonder 
in the flowery path prays to her mother's ashes 
and sees me not. 

Wu Hoo Git 
I selected the right mother. 

MoY Fah Loy 
Then she is not your real honorable mother? 

Wu Hoo Git 

I liked her name and thought she would be an 
honorable mother. I needed one. 

MoY Fah Loy 

I am glad you chose her. I couldn't have 

spoken to you if you had not been one of our 

sublime family. 

Peeps at him through fan. 



Ii6 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

I can behold with my eyes your celestial heart 
through the lattice of your fan. 

MoY Fah Loy 

How wonderful you are ! The openings are so 
small for you to peep through and my heart is so 
augustly large. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I know the august woman heart. I have trav- 
eled the road of pleasure. I have sailed on the 

flowery sea of sin. 

Crosses to right. 

MoY Fah Loy 

How enchanting! You walk like an emperor. 

He stops walking. 
Walk for me. 

Wu Hoo Git 
I walk. 

Moves several steps toward her. 

How old are you? You must be forty, you 
are so beautiful and wise. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Tapping her fan. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 117 

Walk. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I walk. 

Crosses to left. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Walk with your venerable footsteps nearer, 
that I may see you through my fan. 

He turns toward her. 

Not with your eyes fixed upon me, but your 
head held high in majesty. 

Wu Hoo Git 
I should walk into your eyes and lips. 

MoY Fah Loy 
Then I could not use them. 

Wu Hoo Git 

There is a way. 

Kneeling left of her, 
I have learned it. 

MoY Fah Loy 

From another maiden ? 

Turns her hack on him. 



ii8 THE YELLOW JACKET 

I do not know augustly why, but I do not like 
that. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I will teach you. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Then I shall have traveled the flowery paths 
just as far as you. 

Turns to him again. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Augustly deign to place your eyes this way. I 
would have celestially sworn that I had measured 
the depths and heights of joy; I only stood on the 
rim of the false jade cup till I looked into your 
eyes. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Drawing away from him slowly. 

We are forgetting our mother. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I have a thought. 

Rises. 

If you are my sister and I am your brother, I had 
better adopt another mother. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 119 

MoY Fah Loy 

Tell me why ? 

Wu Hoo Git 

We can not love unless you will be my mother- 
wife. 

MoY Fah Loy 

What shall we do? I am on the threshold of 

betrothal. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Then I renounce our mother and will contend 
with him who seeks your hand. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Rises. Smiling. 

Let us augustly kneel and burn incense and 
pray to find a way. 

They kneel before chair number one, left. 

See Noi 

Enters door left, crosses to right at back 
and down right. 

Moy Fah Loy, Plum Blossom ; do my eyes de- 
ceive me ! On her knees with a man, and she was 
left in my exalted care ! 



I20 THE YELLOW JACKET 

MoY Fah Loy 

Is that you, See Noi? I was engrossed in 
prayer. 

See Noi 

Crosses to Plum Blossom. 

All the prayers of all the gods and all the 
world burned up in an incense pot could not save 
you now. 

Takes her by the arm. Pulls her to right 
center. 

You are ruined. You have spoken to a man ! 

MoY Fah Loy 

He is my brother. 

See Noi 

Impossible ! I knew your mother. 

Moy Fah Loy 

He has adopted my mother. He had none, so 
I gave him half of mine. You taught me chari- 
ties. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 121 

Assistant removes two tablets from chair 
left of stool center, rolls them and 
wakes property man to give them to 
him. Then takes second chair left and 
places it up left, hack to audience. The 
other chair left of stool he removes to 
wall left. 

Half my mother was all I had to give. 

See Noi 

Evil spirits have you. Your maiden modesty 
has flown. You have talked with a man ! 

Wu Hoc Git 

I will marry her, for she is good. 

See Noi 

Plum Blossom, daughter of Tai Char Shoong, 
marry a man without a mother! The maiden 
bloom of her cheek you have brushed away. You 
have blighted the fruit of her usefulness. Her 
father will behead me for this dishonor. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I will make her happier than a father could. 

See Noi 

Your doors are not opposite. Your wealth can 



122 THE YELLOW JACKET 

not match hers. You have no mother and are un- 
equal. Home, I say! 

Takes Plum Blossom up to door right, 
sobbing. 

And see my gray head pay the price your shamed 
virtue brings upon your father's house. 

MoY Fah Loy 

I must be very wicked. 

They exeunt. See Noi crying. Property 
man picks up red cushion and places it 
left, near property box. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Follows up to door and turns. 

If I am to believe my eyes, I have lost true 
love. Shadows encircle me. Who are you, the 
rapping of whose bambo stick, tapping its way 
hither in measured tread, encroaches on my si- 
lence ? 

Enter door left, Maun Giing, blind for- 
tune-teller, accompanied by rapping on 
wood block in orchestra. Down left, 
crosses and up right before speaking. 
Carries long bamboo stick, which he 
raps on stage, still accompanied by 
wood block in the orchestra. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 123 

Maun Gung 

The blinds of darkness have been drawn across 
the windows of my head. I see not. I am a beg- 
gar; the past, the present and the future parade 
before me. I know all. 

Wu Hoo Git 

How can you know when you can not see ? 

Maun Gung 

Let your kindness loose its purse-string to help 
me on my stumbling way and I will tell. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Gives money. 

How know you life with holes for eyes? 

Maun Gung 
I look within. There lies all there is to know. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Then you are not a prophet of the days to 
come? 

Maun Gung 

I read the days to come by the light of the days 
that have gone. My brain sights travel the 



124 THE YELLOW JACKET 

ghostly ways of memory. What a man was, he 
is; and what he is, he will be. A fool can 
prophesy. 

Wu Hoc Git 

Know you the year and moon of my birth ? 

Maun Gung 

Not so, for your birthday was the death day of 
what you were before. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Was I bom rich or poor? 

Maun Gung 

You were born rich, for your mind is rich and 
that is all. 

Wu Hoo Git 
Whom seek I? 

Maun Gung 

You have a youthful voice, therefore warm 
blood is in your veins. You seek your love- 
mate. 

Wu Hoo Gii 

And will she come to me? 



THE YELLOW JACKET 125 

Maun Gung 

If you pray to your venerated ancestors to 
guide her right. 

Wu Hog Git 

Fearfully: 
And if I have no ancestors? 

Maun Gung 

Raising stick. 

Even my bamboo has its celestial shadow and, 
if you have no ancestors, you are an unwanted 
soul cast back on the shores of earth to starve of 

joy. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Speak not so ! I will not hear it. 

Maun Gung 
You like not the truth. 

Wu Hoo Git 

'Angrily: 

I will send you to your ancestors to plead for 

me. 

Maun Gung 

I can not plead to them. I will live forever 
there, but will not know my neighbors. Learn 
for yourself, as I have. 

Exits, tapping cane, door right. 



126 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

Stay, tell me more ! He goes from me as all 
have done in the world. Everything I touch turns 
to blackness in my hand. 

Property man stands on chair up left with 
bamboo pole and silk cord with noose. 

I behold a weeping willow. I shall die on its 
branch, then my love will be sorry. I will find 
my ancestors. 

Stands on stool center. Props lower pole. 
He puts noose around his neck. Then 
jumps off stool. 

Chorus 

He hangs himself, but fear not, the spirit of 
his mother watches over him, and will send a 
wayfarer who will cut him down. 

Enter Git Hok Gar left, crosses down left. 
Sees Wu Hoo Git and hacks away to 
left. Large gong. He then turns to 
property man, who holds out sword to 
him. He takes it and cuts at cord. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Who are you that would take from me the joy 
of compelling the world to miss me? 



THE YELLOW JACKET 127 

Git Hok Gar 

The world laughs when there is one less mouth 
to feed. If you would make the world respect 
you, stay and fight it. 

Wu Hoc Git 
Takes off noose. Ruhs throat, 
I prefer my celestial breath. 

Git Hok Gar 

Dying hurts unnecessarily. 

Property man grabs sword from him and 
puts it in box, then places pole against 
wall left. Git Hok Gar turns and looks 
at him. Assistant crosses to right and 
removes tablets from chairs and places 
them in box left. Turning to Wu Hoo 
Git. 

You are too young to seek death. What leads 
you to this making off ? 

Wu Hoo Git 

The loss of a love that encircles my life like a 
star light-ringed. 

Git Hok Gar 
To enjoy love you must enjoy life. 



128 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

I am a worldless man. Even at the threshold 
of my days — I am shameful. I have no shadows, 
no ancestors to bring a blessing to my love. 

Git Hok Gar 
Have you no home ? 

Wu Hoo Git 
My father and mother are foster. 

Git Hok Gar 

Then you owe them more than those who, in 
giving you life, had a duty toward you. Home! 
You are rich in mind, which is all. 

Crosses up right. 
Wu Hoo Git 
But the circle about my heart ! My love ring ! 

Git Hok Gar 

Make yourself great in right living and your 
ancestors will find you. Cheerful, my boy, I will 
lead you to your home and my gray head will find 
you life and love, which I missed for want of 
guiding. Come ! To your home ! 

They exeunt right. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 129 

Property man's assistant removes one 
chair to wall right. The other he places 
against Chorus' table and another as- 
sistant takes stool from center and 
places it against the chair and below it. 
Property man then places sword on it, 
dusting it first. 

Chorus 

'Tis again the house of Lee Sin, the fanner. 

Music. 
SuEY Sin Fah 

Enters left, followed by Lee Sin. They 
come dozvn left, open imaginary door, 
step over the sill. Lee Sin closes the 
door. 

Will he never come, Lee Sin ? 

Lee Sin 

When he has learned the world. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

He has forgotten us. 

Lee Sin 

My majestic ox does not forget the stall where 

he is fed. 

Crosses to right. Music. 



I30 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

Enters with Git Hok Gar. 
My home, the door. 

Git Hok Gar 

Left of him. 
Enter bravely and make amends. 

Wu Hoo Git 
I am ashamed. You go first. ^ 

Git Hok Gar 

Raps on imaginary door. Opens door. 
Enters. 

I am Git Hok Gar, philosopher. Have you a 
son? 

SuEY Sin Fah 
Not dead! 

Git Hok Gar 

He is at your threshold seeking forgiveness. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Enters imaginary door. 
May I enter ? 



THE YELLOW JACKET 131 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Wu Hoo Git, my boy, my Wu Hoo Git ! 

Embraces him, weeping. Git Hok Gar 
moves up right. 

Wu Hoo Git 
I choke ! 

Crosses to center. 

How are the august rice fields, the loom and 
the ox? 

SuEY Sin Fah 

You have not forgotten them? 

Wu Hoo Git 

I am learning to remember, for memory comes 
with love, and I have met one who lit the enchant- 
ing candle in my heart. Her lips are flower buds 
that open with delight at the warmth of my su- 
perb kisses, but even as my day broke with a ro- 
seate dawn, a despair cloud crossed the sky, and 
death hovered in my path. I have no ancestors. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

My poor boy ! 

Wu Hoo Git 

Pity me not. Manliness sneers at pity. Open 



132 THE YELLOW JACKET 

the door of knowledge to me. Who are my an- 
cestors ? 

Lee Sin 
They are — 

SuEY Sin Fah 
No! No! 

Lee Sin 
I will tell! 

SuEY Sin Fah 

It will cost us his life and yours. 

Lee Sin 
I care not. 

Crosses to Wu Hoo Git. Tai Char Shoong 
enters dragging Plum Blossom by the 
hand. 

I murdered for love of you. What must our boy 
suffer for love ! Your father was — 

Tai Char Shoong 

Who has come down left. 

Dwells Wu Hoo Git here ? 

Wu Hoo Git 

I am the august Wu Hoo Git. Who are you 
that break upon us like an angry sea ? 



THE YELLOW JACKET 133 

Tai Char Shoong 

Father of the glorious Plum Blossom, whom 
you betrayed. 

Wu Hog Git 

I found your celestial daughter at the tablets of 

her mother. She was pure and beautiful and I 

loved her. 

MoY Fah Loy 

And I loved him. 

Tai Char Shoong 

To Wu Hoo Git. 

Your days are numbered. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Not by the count of man. 

Tai Char Shoong 

But by a father's count. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I will marry her, and make her mine. 

Tai Char Shoong 
You, without ancestors! 



134 THE YELLOW JACKET 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Season your anger while I speak! To your 
knees, Wu Hoo Git, and receive your sacred heri- 
tage. 

He kneelSj back to audience. 

Raise your eyes heavenward. 

She takes out baby jacket with Chinese let- 
ters on it. 

Your mother now speaks. 

Wu Hoo Git 
My mother ! 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Showing him the baby jacket. 

Each blood-stain from this baby jacket is the 
history of your being and breathes a mother's 
blessing. 

Wu Hoo Git 
My soul ! — my mother ! 

SuEY Sin Fah 

These lines are too sacred for me to voice. 
Your lips alone must form the words. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 135 

Wu Hoo Git 

My eyes are choked with tears. Breathe my 
mother's name. 

SuEY Sin Fah 
Chee Moo, the beautiful ! 

Wu Hoo Git 
Chee Moo ! I feel her a little above my head. 

Lee Sin 
And your father — 

Wu Hoo Git 

My father! The highway of too much joy 
opens to my famished soul. 

Lee Sin 

Wu Sin Yin, the Great. 

Wu Hoo Git 

The Great ! 

Tai Char Shoong 

If this were true, Wu Hoo Git would rule this 
province where the Daffodil, son of Wu Sin Yin, 
the Great, now sits in splendor. 



136 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

My mother crowns me with a truth cloud. I 
will prove her air message for her I love. 

Tai Char Shooxg 

I believe you not ! Make your boasting words 
realities and Plum Blossom is yours. 

Wu Hoo Git 

And so I will. But what have I to guard the 
way of life ? 

Lee Sin 

Who has taken sword from chmr up cen- 
ter now comes dowfi. 

This sword of courage. 

Gives szvord to Wu Hoo Git and steps 
hack a little. 

SuEY Sin Fah 

Gives baby jacket. 

And this guiding star of a mother's love to 
armor him. 

Wu Hoo Git 

A mother's love ! 



THE YELLOW JACKET 137 

MoY Fah Loy 

Crossing to center. 

Make a prayer each day big enough to match it 
and I will do so, too. 

Suey Sin Fah and Lee Sin retire up stage 
right. 

\Xv Hog Git 

I will write your name on my hand-palms that 
even1:hing I touch and feel will be Plum Blos- 
som. I may never clasp my home and heart 
again. Let me mingle my breath with yours. 

Git Hok Gar 

Crossing to left. 

You are already breathing the harshness of the 
world. You must fulfil the life for which your 
mother died. 

Two assistant property men with chariot 
banners enter door left and stand each 
side of it, 

A stem way is licking your feet. Come! Your 
glorious chariot awaits you. 

Wu Hog Git 
Rising. Crosses to Git Hok Gar left. 



138 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Carry I naught away with me but honorable 
memories and leave all behind me at this door- 
way of farewells? 

MoY Fah Loy 

Crosses to center. 

Yes, one part of me you take. My way shall 
be crippled till your return, then restore it to me. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Speak the joy you have in store for me. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Takes off slipper. 

My slipper! Let it bide next your heart on 
your weary way. In the hour of frightful neces- 
sity shake it and I will come to you. 

Gives it to him. 

Wu Hoo Git 

What do you meantime without your august 
slipper? 

MoY Fah Loy 
Stand on one leg like a bird. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 139 

Wu Hoo Git 
On one leg like an august bird ! 

Kisses Plum Blossom, 

SuEY Sin Fah 

WuHoo Git! 

Music. 

Git Hok Gar 

Come ! Mount ! 

Git Hok Gar goes up and stands between 
by the chariot banners. Plum Blossom 
hops on one foot and stands on chair up 
center, zvavi^ig farewell. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I go to seek my heritage. 

They start across the stage, accompanied 
by the chariot banners. Plum Blossom 
hops on one foot and stands on chair up 
center, waving farewell. 

Lee Sin 

Courage, my boy ! Courage ! 

They go to right, then up stage and turn 
near door. 



I40 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

Farewell ! 

Holding slipper up in the air. 

Tableau Curtain 

Chorus 

Appearing through opening in tableau cur- 
tain and bowing. 

I bow in personal appreciation of your approval, 
if truly manifest, of my Wu Hoo Git, upon whom 
my fancy will now bestow the Yellow Jacket and 
the Peacock Feather. I speak in the first person, 
for I am accustomed to adulation, and it does not 
in the least discompose me. My brothers of the 
Pear Tree Garden are far otherwise ; a little flat- 
tery upsets their modest equipoise. While there 
may be those who desire to secure the credit or 
discredit, I will say, — your generosity forces me 
to admit it, — I wrote this play — a mere trifle. I 
composed the music, too. I taught them the story 
of my grandiloquent imagination. I showed 
them where to walk, how to talk. In my august 
fancy I painted the scenes. My menial, the prop- 
erty man, at my august celestial suggestion, will 
now give them thunder-clouds and snow-storms 
to assist their meager interpretation. The play is 



THE YELLOW JACKET 141 

mine, the acting virtually mine. Such remunera- 
tion as you have bestowed upon us by your gra- 
cious patronage, I accept. Such sums as I may 
deem necessary I shall pass on to my brothers. 
At the end of the play you may call them before 
you if you like. It will please me, and praise 
them sparingly, but of course, I shall know that 
you know that the celestial thought was wholly 
and modestly mine. I bow. 

Exits. 

CURTAIN 



ACT III 

After house curtain is raised property man 
comes before tableau curtains, walks back and 
forth across stage, beating large gong. As he 
exits behind the curtains, orchestra on stage be- 
gins to play. At crash of cymbals Chorus comes 
before tableau curtains. 

Chorus 

I still observe my honorable way and come to 
you, making my words brief and less august at 
each superb presentation of myself, for the more 
my brothers have to say the less need I. The sec- 
ond father-in-law^ Tai Fah Min, though dead, 
still lives in spirit to retard Wu Hoo Git's august 
progress. But, forget not that our hero is older 
and augustly wiser. Having wearied of rice wine 
and song girls, he now approaches the portals of 
celestial philosophy. All men approach the god- 
like realms of thoughtful sufficiency after the 
bodily attainments wane. I bow. 

Turns back to audience and at gesture with 
his fan tableau curtains are drawn. 
Walks to his table, center, as music is 
142 



THE YELLOW JACKET 143 

played, before speaking. Four stools 
have been placed across stage center, 
spaces between them. Property man 
discovered sitting on stool right center. 
When Chorus gets to table he rises and 
indicates the scene. 

Chorus 

The Daffodil takes his steps among his mul- 
berry bushes, watching the silkworms spin while 
he threads his brain with evil. 

Music continues. Daffodil enters, comes to 
stool left center, does business of smell- 
ing imaginary bushes, then goes to cen- 
ter. Property man brings flowers for 
him to smell, — which he waves aside 
scornfully. Property man returns flow- 
ers to box left and then crosses to right 
at back and stands at upper end of dra- 
pery, which is hung to form a screen 
about a chair placed upon a table against 
wall right and represents the Daffodil's 
palace. Piano during speech. 

Wu Fah Din 

I apologize for the apparent inadequacy of my 
brain against Wu Hoo Git's brawn. I am as dis- 
appointed as you are that I have not been able to 
kill this young Wu Hoo Git. Bear with me, how- 
ever, for I will eventually do so. Wu Hoo Git 



144 THE YELLOW JACKET 

not only lives, but starts on a journey to take my 
place in life and despatch me. Such a result would 
be deplorable, as you know. I had with my kind- 
ness of nature planned for him a gently lingering 
death. I must now unkindly kill him outright, 
for your entertainment. I must be most careful 
in so doing, for, if I kill him, despising brute 
force as I do, my subjects, who should be his sub- 
jects, would immortalize him and the truth would 
come out. I have discovered some truths also 
about myself which I prefer not to have known. 
I shall retire to my palace 

Indicates it and moves up right. Property 
man dusts drapery. 

and on my cushioned throne, watch from its bat- 
tlements. 

Ascends throne. Screened by drapery. 

I invoke all the subtle forces of my brain against 
Wu Hoo Git's brawn. I will impede his journey 
toward my person and my throne. I will throw 
death evils in his pathway. I will place before 
him a lofty mountain peak — that he may exhaust 
himself in climbing over it. I direct the battle 
with my fan. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 145 

Disappears behind drapery. Property 
man's assistants move two tables from 
left. Place them center, touching each 
other, and put two stools which are now 
underneath the tables on top of them. 
Property man crosses right, below 
tables, and stands at upper end of them. 

Chorus 

'Tis a lofty mountain peak. 

Property man rests elbow on upper stool 
and puts head in his hands. Enter Wu 
Hoo Git and Git Hok Gar. Music. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Crosses to center, below table. 

Show me the battle-ground. Must I contend 
here, or shall I wander farther ? 

Git Hok Gar 

Left. 

No man can foresee his battle-ground. Every 
shadow or darkening cloud may bring him peril. 
The way grows long. Think, my boy. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Crossing to Git Hok Gar. 

I can think when I am dead. Love quickens 



146 THE YELLOW JACKET 

my desire for triumphant vengeance, that I may 
conquer all, secure my throne, and place Plum 
Blossom on a seat of love beside me. 

Git Hok Gar 

Turning, looks at imaginary mountain, 
center. 

What! Must we drag ourselves over another 
mountain, with its ragged roof? 

Wu Hoc Git 

I shall o'ertop them all, for nothing shall stay 
my progress. 

Climbs to top of stools on table, center, as- 
sisting himself by holding imaginary 
branches. Then helps Git Hok Gar to 
mount table. 

From the o'ertopping view I see the tiled roof 
where bides Plum Blossom. I see my home, too, 
and peacefulness behind me. 

Git Hok Gar 

And before you monsters, terrors and murder 
to overcome. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 147 

Wu Hoo Git 

I care not, for all my tasks now are bom of 
love. Come on ! 

Starts to descend from fable. As he places 
foot on stool right of table, cymbals 
crash. 

I feel a hand of ice encircling my sublime leg. 

Git Hok Gar 

It is an evil stream spirit that would drag you 
in. Cleave it with your fiery sword. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I would desperately cleave, 

Starts to draw sword. 
but it is gone. 

Turning to Git Hok Gar, smiling. 

It overheard my solemn thought. You can 
crush enemies and friends with the weight of the 
tongue. 

Descends to stage, assists Git Hok Gar to 
descend and they exeunt right. Music. 
Property man's assistant takes one table 
and stool and moves it left. Another 
removes the far table and stool to left. 



148 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Fah Din 

Appears above drapery. 

He is such an impetuous youth, is he not ? See 
how madly he is rushing into the dangers I am 
preparing for him. His cHmbing of that moun- 
tain was a mere exhibition of brawn. I will con- 
front him with the raging torrent. 

Retires behind drapery. Property man 
crosses to rights picks up end of plank 
zvhich lies belozv the two stools. Assist- 
ant picks tip left end of plank. As they 
place it on stools property man pretends 
to have hurt his finger. Another assist- 
ant looks at it sympathetically. Prop- 
erty man indicates scene and they retire 
to left. 

Chorus 

'Tis a wayward river and bridge. 

Wu Fah Din 

Rises behind drapery. 

Bridge! Bridge! I had hopes of this river, 
but my gentle mind overlooked the bridge. How- 
ever, it may be a weak bridge. 

Retires behind drapery. Wu Hoo Git and 
Git Hok Gar enter door left. Music for 
entrance. They come to left center. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 149 

Git Hok Gar 
Water confronts us. 

Wu Hog Git 
But see, a span of thoughtful kindness awaits us. 

Git Hok Gar 

The chasm is so deep and chill and the way 
across so narrow. Let us go about and find a 
safer crossing. 

He crosses down to extreme left. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Come on! It has been left us by brave souls 
who have passed before. 

Git Hok Gar 

So in all journeys in life, bridges have been 
built by those who left their deeds behind them. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Armored with courage, I draw my sword of 
progress ! The end will never be seen if my first 
footfall weakens. 

Steps on bridge from left. Falls to his 
knee. 



I50 THE YELLOW JACKET 

I stumble to my knee. 

Git Hok Gar 
The gods would make you humble at starting. 

Wu Hoc Git 
A silent prayer to the baby-mother message. 

He prayerfully kisses garment. 

Behold ! The spirits are satisfied. They rock us 

not. 

Git Hok Gar mounts bridge from left. 

In the water, mirrored below, I see a face like my 
own. It has lines of evil in it. 

Git Hok Gar 

The serpent lines of your father's face crawl in 
yours by reflection. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Is my face a snake's nest ? What must I do to 

cleanse it? 

Git Hok Gar 

Bathe it in the sunshine of virtue. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Behold! over my father's shoulder grins the 
fox's face again that molests my sight. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 151 

Git Hok Gar 

It is Tai Fah Min, who gloats at your struggle 
to be free from the curse of a father's crime. 

Wu Hoc Git 

What shall I do? 

Git Hok Gar 

Purify your soul and he will flee with the snake 

face. 

Wu Hoo Git 

In the mirror of the sublime water I now be- 
hold precipices, depths, valleys, snow-encircled 
peaks! Birds swim in the pearly air below the 
clouds like fishes in the clear stream beneath. The 
fox face again molests my sight! I will consult 
my garment of direction. 

Observing garment again. 

The lines trickle toward the eastern path at the 
bridge's end, with mother blood-drops larger to 
indicate the way. Come on ! For Plum Blossom 
I conquer on earth and in Heaven. 

Gets off bridge to right. 

Git Hok Gar 

Following him. 



152 THE YELLOW JACKET 

My brave boy. We step upon a tiny peak of 
yellow rock. 

Music. They exeunt right. Property tnan 
and assistant remove stools and plank, 
leaving stage clear. 

Wu Fah Din 

Appears. 

It is useless for me to tell you of the fear in his 
heart as he crossed that bridge. He was con- 
tinually calling out for a woman. I will throw 
an inky darkness in his path, that it may affright 

him. 

Retires behind drapery. 

Chorus 

'Tis a thunder-cloud. 

Music. Loy Gong enters door right, 
stamps around in a circle just inside 

door, finishing, right center. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Enters door left zdth Git Hok Gar. Comes 
to left center. 



Who are you that impedes my way with clam- 

ous noise ? 

LoY Gong 

I am Loy Gong, the God of Thunder, requested 



THE YELLOW JACKET 153 

by a world power to o'ershadow you. I keep 
mortal aspirations down for the other gods 
through bellowing fear. 

Hits standard with hammer. Cymbals. 

Wu Hoo Git 

But I fear you not. My wisdom buds with 

courage, impregnable to gods and man, and 

teaches me that every word-might or heavenly 

power has one still higher before whom it quails 

— called love. ! 

LoY Gong 

And what is love? 

Wu Hoo Git 

For me. Plum Blossom. 

LoY Gong 

And what flower fear I when the floor of 
Heaven bends beneath my tread? 

Wu Hoo Git 

The sky-flower — the august rainbow of good 

thoughts and deeds ! 

Loy Gong drops hammer. 

Before its seven light-rays you crouch in silence. 



154 THE YELLOW JACKET 

LoY Gong 

Fearfully: 

I would fill your purse, to keep my secret, for if 
my weakness were known to man, I should lose 
my solemn fearfulness. 

Wu Hoc Git 

With contempt: 

My wisdom can not be purchased. 

LoY Gong 

I will welcome you on my icy peaks and whis- 
per music to you. 

Wu Hoo Git 

When I arrive on your august peaks, I care not 
what tones you take, for I shall have within my 
veins the warmth of Plum Blossom's love. 

LoY Gong 

Goes toward door right. 

I withdraw my august self in fearfulness of 

wisdom. 

Exits door right. Music. 

Git Hok Gar 

Crosses to Wu Hoo Git, center. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 155 

You have met the most fearful of the gods and 
vanquished him. 

Wu Hoc Git 

Give me the earth to conquer, that the earth 
may no longer deny me my heritage and my Plum 
Blossom's love. 

End of speech in doorway. Exeunt right, 

Wu Fah Din 

Appears. 

This makes me decidedly uncomfortable. What 
tripping potency has he to overcome a god ? Can 
it be that he is coupling brain with brawn ? My 
seat of dignity rocks in f earfulness. Let Kom Loi 
ensnare and slay him. 

Property man brings a large web made of 
gold string which is tied on a frame- 
work of wood with thread and sets it 
up, right, leaning sleepily against it. 
Enter Kom Loi, as Spider, and takes 
position back of web, right. 

Chorus 
'Tis a golden spider-web. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Entering left with Git Hok Gar, crosses to 

right, stops in front of web. 



156 THE YELLOW JACKET' 

WTiat is this tangled mesh that stretches from 

earth to Heaven and pretends to bar my way with 

petty entanglements ? My celestial curiosity leads 

me to inquire. 

KoM Loi 

I beckon your sublime presence. 

Wu Hoo Git 

It invites me with a gentle voice. I am led to 
desire a closer view. 

KoM Loi 

Let me encircle you with the beauties and love- 
knots of friendship. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Its voice is as gentle as Plum Blossom's. It 

must be my friend. 

Peeps. 

I see but indistinctly through the fluttering weave 
of rainbow lights the faces of Wu Sin Yin and 
Tai Fah Min directing malice. I will obsen-e 
more closely. 

Wets finger and makes slit in web. 

KoM Loi 

Enraged voice. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 157 

Beware! I asked you to enter my abode as a 
friend. You stick your finger in the eye of my 
hospitality. Beware ! 

Wu Hog Git 

Looking up. 

An august Spider and his enchanting web ! 

Frightened. 
Git Hok Gar 

The thing is dangerous and I am a man of 
peace. I will depart my footsteps to the other 
side of the mountain. 

Picks up chair, crosses left, sits facing left. 

Wu Hoc Git 

To Spider. 
I repent my fault. 

KoM Loi 

Repentance may help your soul, but will not re- 
weave the strands in which I catch human flies 
that would know my lair. You shall die. 

Spider hursts forth and throws silken 
strands. 

Wu Hog Git 

Frightened: 



158 THE YELLO\\^ JACKET 

It is an evil thing that has entangled me for vice 
of curiosity. 

KoM Loi 
Beware! 

Wu Hog Git 

I am in the Spider's eyes — a web of light dances 

'twixt his demon seeing-sockets and mine. It is 

an august new- power that holds me fast. I must 

use my sublime brain, for the spider has not my 

sublime brain. I possess a celestial thought. I 

will cut with my sword the eye-chain that binds 

me to the monster. I cut w4th my impressive 

sword. 

Starts back. 

I am free to meet him now — ^man to Spider ! 

Spider throzvs out silk ribbon rolls from 
iveb. 

He spits witch daggers at me, to destroy my love 
and life. I augustly sever them. I obsen-e I am 

celestially his unequal match. 

Spider throzvs more silk strands at htm, 
furnished by property man. He cuts 
them at first. Finally he becomes tied 
up in many strands and falls. 

I am woven in tlie web of evil. ]Mv sword hacks 



THE YELLOW JACKET 159 

but cuts not. The web dulls its fiery edge. I am 
being tied to the earth-rocks ! I have a thought. 
I will call Plum Blossom. I will shake the slipper. 

Shakes slipper. 

Moy Fah Loy, Moy Fah Loy, save me ! 

MoY Fah Loy 

Enters door to Heaven, center, above as a 
disembodied spirit. Kom Loi attempts 
to throvu more ribbons, but is stopped by 
Plum Blossom's voice. 

The slipper shook. The earth stood still. The 
winds blew me here. I command the demon 
Spider to depart. 

KoM Loi 

Makes another attempt to throw ribbons 
— stops zvith arm in mid-air. 

My web spins not. My joints crinkle in the light 
of purity. I seek the dark. 

Exits door right, stepping through web. 
Music. Property man removes frame, 
gathers up silk strands, takes them off, 
door right. 

Wu Hoc Git 

Proudly. Down left. 



i6o THE YELLOW JACKET 

The strands about me melt in celestial light. 
The Spider withers before my exalted gaze. I 
feel in my expanding soul the power to o'ercome 
all monsters wild. I would that Plum Blossom 
might see my unaided triumph. She would adore 
my fiery bravery. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Moy Fah Loy sees all and knows all. 

Music, 

Wu Hoc Git 

Crosses to center, listenhig. 

Plum Blossom's rippling voice, yet I behold her 

not. 

Moy Fah Loy 

I am the disembodied soul of her you loved so 
constantly, permitted for a moment only with 
heavenly vision to behold you. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Sees her. 

WTierefore do you approach me on the steps of 
Heaven? Why does a dazzling halo of light glo- 
riously encircle you like dew-drops on a star? 
WTiat evil one has snatched you from the flower 
paths of earth, where you were sublimely mine. 




COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY ARNOLD GENTHt 



Plum Blossom, 



THE YELLOW JACKET i6i 

to place you beyond my human ecstasy ? I shall 
know ; and, if it be one of earth, my sword shall 
avenge our parting; if it be one who has passed 
beyond, my pursuing spirit shall follow him and 
knife him with the blasts of anguish. 

Crosses up to right center. 

MoY Fah Loy 

You shook the slipper and I came in your hour 

of need. 

Wu Hog Git 

I shook it that you might behold my hour of 
august victory. Alone, I vanquished the beast of 
the fields. 

Property man and assistant bring table on 
which are two stools to center. Wu 
Hoo Git takes one stool, places it right, 
at table, the other stool remaining on 
table, 

I will build a mountain that shall kiss high 
Heaven, and on the top of it I will cone ten thou- 
sand thousand peaks till, topping the highest with 
my dainty foot, you palpitate within my august 

arms. 

MoY Fah Loy 

We palpitate not in Heaven. 



1 62 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 
Despite the terror of your thought, I ascend. 

Climbs on table impulsively. 
MoY Fah Loy 

Ascend not, for all men who strive to build a 
Heaven ladder and know the secrets of the gods 
have met with defeat and punishment. 

Wu Hoo Git 

But my ladder is love-woven and each rung is 
a love strand upon which the humblest may tip- 
toe to Heaven. 

MoY Fah Loy 

But it must be born of love you know not of. 
My prayers alone must guide you, not myself. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Climbs to top of chair on table, back to 
audience. Music. 

I would place the kiss of august victory upon 
your painted lips. 

MoY Fah Loy 

I have no lips. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 163 

Wu Hoo Git 

I would take you in my glorious arms that your 
heart might impress your hero's heart. 

MoY Fah Loy 
I have no heart. 

Wu Hoo Git 
But stand you not on venerable legs? 

MoY Fah Loy 
I stand on thinnest air. I have no legs. 

Wu Hoo Git 

No legs in Heaven ! Then you are false to me 
and unworthy of my glorious victory. 

MoY Fah Loy 

I know not arms, nor legs, nor kisses. I left 
my body at home for my celestial father, Tai 
Char Shoong, to guard till your return. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Turns on stool facing audience. 
It was an august oversight. You should have 



i64 THE YELLOW JACKET 

brought your impressive body with you. I de- 
scend from Heaven. 

Climbs down right of table. 

MoY Fah Loy 

I go and leave you to your august way. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Stay but a little. Give me some exchange of 
sweetness, my rose of Heaven, 

Property man takes stool off table and 
places it left. Music stops. 

MoY Fah Loy 

The small space of time I have to encourage 
you is spent. I can tarry but a breath time, then 
breathe myself away. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Then float guiding on, in your cloud-like boat 
to inspire my aching heart, and I will follow, till 
the world is mine and nothing left to conquer. 

MoY Fah Loy 

I can but leave the promise of fragrance to 
come, for the petals of my love are not yet full 
blown to answer you. The zephyr-wagon blows 



THE YELLOW JACKET 165 

homeward and I must ride with it or lose my way. 
Farewell ! 

Wu Hoc Git 

Stay ! Stay ! Love is never lost for heroism is 
born of it. 

MoY Fah Loy 

Love is in the heart when far away. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Love is in the heart, always. When next you 
come forget not to bring your exalted lips. 

MoY Fah Loy 

T shall augustly remember, for I observe man 
knows not woman without her Hps. I depart for 
my body. 

She exits upper door center. Music. Wu 
Hoo Git mounts stool right of table, 
holds out his arms toward Moy Fah 
Loy, then turns to Git Hok Gar who has 
crossed to upper left-hand corner of 
table. 

Git Hok Gar 

I observe your eyes roll with unfailing tears, 
your lips are heavy with undelivered kisses of 
farewell. 



166 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

There is no place to remove them. 

Comes down center. 

Give me back my Moy Fah Loy, even in spirit. 

Git Hok Gar 

Left center. 

Experience and years only can know spirit love. 

Wu Hoo Git 

We must climb still higher into the golden way. 
I would fear to meet more elements, if it were not 
that I had embraced disembodied Plum Blossom 
and know that nothing can harm me now. 

Exeunt door right. 

^Assistant property man removes table and 
stool to left. 

Wu Fah Din 

Appears above drapery. Watches them off. 

I surmised not he had a slipper. It is a most 

dangerous potency to overcome. It upsets my 

plans frightfully. I must contrive a way to get it. 

What barks? 

Terror. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 167 

I summoned nothing of this nature. Can it be 
Wu Hoo Git has sent this monster after me 
while I was cogitating his destruction ? 

To attendant below: 

Ask who it is? Speak to it boldly or I will toss 
you at it bodily. 

Attendant 

Hesitates, 
Who are you ? 

Tai Fah Min 

With fox head on. 

You may not know me in this guise, but I am 
a fox spirit, and being a fox, I have changed my 
form, so fear not. My brain is the brain of Tai 
Fah Min, the second father-in-law of Wu Sin Yin, 
and so your grandfather. I come to help you to 
wreak mischief on Wu Hoo Git. I might have 
accomplished all of my iniquity but death came 
along and took me. The gods were kind, how- 
ever, and on my path to the spirit world I stum- 
bled on a fox body, unused some days by the de- 
parted fox, and sublimely climbed into it. So 
I was released from an abode in the depths to 
prowl and help you in your mischief on Wu Hoo 



1 68 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Git I shall hinder him of success; if my tail be 
not cut off in the bloody encounter which must 
ensue I shall do him murder. He shall perish and 
then you rule unmolested. 

He struts up stage. 

I will take on a frightful shape. I can swim, I can 

run. He shall not escape me. I have a reason ; I 

have a tail. 

Exits right. 

Wu Fah Din 

^Exultantly: 

I have cause to be proud of my ancestors. I 
banish trembling fear and all kindness from my 
heart. The traditions of my family attend upon 
my wisdom. My grandfather is here to aid me. 
With such mighty strength, my bloody conten- 
tion is no longer wit against wit, brawn against 
brawn ; for I meet him with all the venom of my 
heritage. I have him now. 

Wu Hoc Git 

Enters with GitHok Gar left. 

But tell me. When you trod this path in youth 
did such things impede your way? 




COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY ARNOLD GENTHE 



The Daffodil. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 169 

Git Hok Gar 

No, I had none to envy me, but you are born 
to opposition because of the rights you seek. 

Down left. Messenger enters to Daffodil 
with red papers up right. 

Wu Fah Din 

Now for the slipper and his death ! My mes- 
sage is from my grandfather, who you know is 
Tai Fah Min. You will see what a terrible shape 
he will assume. Prepare your flowery handker- 
chiefs for the flood of tears which you will shed 
at the death of Wu Hoo Git. 

Horrible monster tiger enters down right, 
assisted by property man, who lights 
fuse in nostrils and dusts head, which 
conceals Tai Fah Min. Its body is sup- 
ported by an assistant inside. 

Wu Hoo Git 

What monster approaches me — with lightning 
orbs, thunder voice, and meandering gait of hor- 
ror? Bring him nearer that I may pierce his 
armor with my flashing eyes ! 

Git Hok Gar 

Fearfidly. Crosses center to tiger. 



I70 THE YELLOW JACKET 

It is the tiger- father of all tigers ! Its claws dig 
graves. 

Roar from tiger. 

Wu Hoo Git 
What language speaks it ? I understand it not. 

Git Hok Gar 

It is the language of death. 

Urges Wu Hoo Git back. 

I am old and must perish soon. You are young, 
so run! 

Wu Hoo Git 

NotL 

Crosses to center. 

I shall augustly sever it to crown my love with 

victory. 

Tiger roars. 

Git Hok Gar 

It thunders answer. Flee ! 

Wu Hoo Git 



NotL 



Moves down front and around tiger, which 
crosses to center. Dismembers body 
with sword. Assistant runs. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 171 

The head runs without legs. I like it not. 

Tai Fah Min 

Within tiger's head, 

I have you now. Crumble before my bark; 

shriek at my snap ; die at my bite. I am Tai Fah 

Min. 

Wu Hog Git 

Who conspired with my father, Wu Sin Yin, 
to depart my beloved mother, Chee Moo. 

Tai Fah Min 

I assault you with my teeth. I would glori- 
ously chew you and honorably digest you, for, 
while you live, you menace the glorious future of 
my daughter's child. 

They fight. Cymbals, drums, etc. 

Wu Hoc Git 

I chop your throat. I cut it with fiery blade 
from ear to ear. 

Tai Fah Min 
I mind it not. 

Git Hok Gar 

It is invulnerable. It is a fox. 



172 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

I augustly neglected the thought. I will sever 

its tail. 

Cuts off tail and stamps on it. 

Tai Fah Min 

Falls. 

I am undone without my brush. 'Tis murder 
most unkind. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Proudly: 

Kind or unkind, I contemptuously tread upon 
it with my sublime foot. 

Music. Property man places ladder center. 

Git Hok Gar 

Crosses to above fox, lying on floor cen- 
ter in tiger skin. 

Know, unhappy fox spirit, this glorious boy, 

seeking vengeance for a mother, places you in a 

clean soul dress at Heaven's threshold in return 

for your unwonted crimes. You should die in 

thankfulness. 

Moves left again. 

Wu Hoo Git 

What! I would repent my graciousness. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 173 

Git Hok Gar 

You can not ; you must be noble now. The lan- 
tern of his life is flickering. 

Tai Fah Min 

Comes out of head and dress. 

I humbly repent everything for a sight of 
Heaven. I prayerfully and peacefully die. 

Property man places pillow under his head. 

Wu Hog Git 

Be augustly leisurely about it then. I do not 
wish to be impatient. 

Wu Fah Din 

He trades me and my important office for 
Heaven. 

Tai Fah Min dies, crawls out of tiger 
skin, and afterward he gets up and 
walks to ladder center. Property man 
stops him and looks at Wu Hoo Git. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Going up to ladder. 

Stay! You can not yet aspire to the celestial 
bliss where dwells my mother whose blood is on 
your hands. Depart below. 



174 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Tai Fah Min 

Crosses to door right. Snarls. 

May Plum Blossom never sweeten your pres- 
ence again. 

Exits door right. 

Wu Hog Git 

Moves to door with sword j then turns 
front. 

Like all dying men he would trade with 

Heaven. 

Git Hok Gar 

Philosophy is ever victorious in warfare. 

Wu Hoc Git 

Not philosophy, love. The body of the tiger 
which I severed now bars my august path. 

Git Hok Gar 

I would triumphantly mount over it. 

Property man removes tiger and pillow, 
folding up pillozv. 

Wu Hoc Git 

Observing. 

It mounts for itself. It departs before me. 

Grandly. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 175 

I notice such things not. 

Exeunt right. 

Wu Fah Din 

If I triumph I will come out and view him. 
If I fail I wish not to view my failure. I will part 
him from his friend. I will freeze him into noth- 
ingness. 

Disappears. 

Chorus 

Rises. 
'Tis a snow-storm. 

Music. Property man's assistants enter 
doors right and left with white flags 
rolled with cut paper, which they shake 
out. They come down stage, cross and 
exeunt opposite doors from which they 
enter. Property man walks to center 
with tray of cut paper which he throws 
into the air, over his shoulders, then 
crosses to left again. 

Wu Hoc Git 

Entering left with Git Hok Gar, crosses to 
right center. 

What is this blast which confronts us? What 
is this that freezes up the warmth of your kind- 
ness? 



176 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Git Hok Gar 

It is my welcome shroud for which I long have 
waited. You have grown so fat in wisdom you 
need me not. Bow me a farewell. I am approach- 
ing my robe of wood. Take my august covering 
to warm your worth. I need it not on my jour- 
ney. 

Having taken off coat offers it to Wu Hoo 
Git. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Nay, you must. 

Pushing away coat. 

Git Hok Gar 

I need it not. Put goodness in yourself, to shut 
out cold. The mountain's peak of life is now in 
view for you. From its bleak nose you can see 
the riches of the world and your path beyond. If 
the wisdom you have purchased on your journey 
abides with you, it will be as gloriously fanciful 
as a summer's sea. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Putting coat around shoulders of Git Hok 
Gar. 

Is it decreed that I must mount alone? 



THE YELLOW JACKET 177 

Git Hok Gar 

Every man must look into the Garden of his 
soul alone. My journey is done. My life is spent. 
Yours is only begun. I die. 

Falls to stage. Property man puts pillow 
under his head, kneeling above him; 
spreads white cloth over him, then pulls 
out his heard, spreading it on white 
sheet. Music. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Die not so easily! Snow crowns your gray 
hair with the peace of death. I am blinded, too, 
in white crystals that sparkle upon me. 

Covers his face zvith his hands. Git Hok 
Gar throws off zvhite sheet. Rises, goes 
up center, turns — looks at Wu Hoo Git, 
smiling and with gesture of blessing. 
Climbs ladder to Heaven. Center open- 
ing above. Leaves his coat in snow 
where he died. 

Chorus 

He ascends to Heaven ! 

Wu Hoo Git 
Places hands over coat of Git Hok Gar. 



178 THE YELLOW JACKET 

I put the warmth of ray youthful hands upon 
you to give you life. You are dead and gone 
from me. 

Git Hok Gar 

Above. 
I live above the coldness of the world. 

Exits off right Music stops, 

Wu Hoc Git 

Holding white sheet over Git Hok Gar's 
cloak on floor. 

I build an icy tablet to his memor}^ I sink, I 
freeze. 

Falls to stage, 

I would shake the slipper, but it is a block of 
august ice. Moy Fah Loy ! Plum Blossom ! You, 
too, desert me in my hour of death. 

Property man crosses zvith tray of snow in 
one hand. Places pillow under his head. 
Puts tray of snow on ladder center. 

I augustly pronounce myself passed to my ances- 
tors. 

Property man covers him with zchite sheet. 
Dumps tray of cut paper on sheet and 
crosses to left and sits. 

Chee !Moo 
Enters above as spirit from right. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 179 

I am Chee Moo, your honorable mother, who 
wrote your story in my blood. May the sweet- 
ness of my Heaven-prayer bring warmth into 
your world-body. 

NuNG Fu 

Enters door left with hoe. 

Here is a man snow-bound and chill. I dig 
him out with my farm hoe. 

Wu Hoc Git 

Moy Fah Loy? My words are frozen. She 
hears me not. 

NuNG Fu 

He must be august to have climbed so high. 
An icicle kiss melts upon his lips. He is thinking 
of some one. Then there still is life. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Lead me to the mountain top one august step 
above that I may see the world of love and my 
inner self. 

Chee Moo 

Above, not seen. 

It IS yours, my child, my Wu Hoo Git ! 



i8o THE YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Hoo Git 

What voice was that? 

NuNG Fu 
I heard naught. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I dream in iciness. Lead on, for it is not in 
grandeur that we learn to know, but guided by the 
simplicity of nature's guardian of the soil we see 
with child eyes again all the loveliness of the 
world from the mountain peak of progress. How 
bright and glorious the sun shines! Its imperial 
golden liquid light dazzles my eyes. The sky be- 
comes one huge brass bowl save for that one little 
gray cloud out yonder. 

Pointing above audience front. 

NuNG Fu 

Screening eyes with hands. 

I see no cloud there, but here the sky has a gray 
cloud — my mother's soul cloud. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Then the one I see is my mother soul cloud. 
So with every golden shower of happiness there 



T' 



THE YELLOW JACKET i8i 

is a touch of gray — for one must pause in hap- 
piness to shed a tear for a mother heavenward 
passed. 

Sitting up. 

The jacket burns into my soul and conquers the 
freezing chill. Courage enwraps me. I shake 
off the numbing iciness that congealed my veins. 
Am I deceived again or are my eyes at last open 
to the circling vision of realities which were only 
dreams ? 

Rises. Goes to door right. 

I'll toss my naked self against the palace gates. 

Exeunt. Chee Moo exits above. Music. 

Wu Fah Din 

Rises behind drapery. 

You have heard his almost indelicate threat. 
I'll retire to the inner chamber of my palace and 
gracefully lock myself in. I will swing tighter 
the gate bars, wall myself about and send a crip- 
pling force against him. 

Descends from throne. Comes from be- 
hind drapery. Stands in doorway right. 

I will await him where my walls are strongest and 



i82 THE YELLOW JACKET 

from their top I will pelt his ambitious head with 
tiles. 

Music. Assistant property man removes 
ladder, placing it up left Assistants 
move the drapery on standards right 
and place it across stage at hack up cen- 
ter shozmng reverse side. An assistant 
then gets table and stool from left. An- 
other gets table and chair from right. 
They place the tables center near dra- 
pery, one below the other with the 
chair on the upstage table and stool on 
floor below the down-stage table. As- 
sistant exits right. Another assistant 
exits ^ left. Property man brings red 
cushion and places it on chair on table 
center and also places the Yellow Jacket 
folded in green handkerchief on right- 
hand corner of lower table. He goes to 
right of drapery and motions for 
Chorus to come out. 

Chorus 

Coming out from behind drapery goes to 
right center. Music. 

It is the throne-room of the palace of Wu Sin 
Yin, the Great, from which our hero has been de- 
prived so long. 

Retires behind drapery center. Music 
forte. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 183 

Wu Fah Din 

Enters left. Comes dozvn center. Ascends 
throne. Property man assists him. 
Cymbals. Property man crosses to left, 
then places stool up left center and sits 
on it J hack to audience. Music stops. 

I am deserted by all, but my self-importance 
still remains. I feel an august valor born of my 
inability to get away, for I am not yet undone. 
Deserted as I am, I can not be vanquished. He 
may break down my door bolts. He may trample 
my flower-beds, but when he meets me face to 
face upon my throne, he will tremble before the 
encircling power that crowns me with the wealth 
of ages and my family's vanquishment. 

Music for Wu Hoo Git's entrance. As 
Wu Hoo Git enters, property man rises 
facing left and holds stool in his hands. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Enters door left with sword. Beats upon 
the stool held by property man four 
times with his sword. Cymbal crash for 
each stroke. Property man drops stool, 
then Wu Hoo Git enters imaginary 
gate. 

Where is the throne I seek by right ? Who sits 
upon it? 



1 84 THE .YELLOW JACKET 

Wu Fah Din 

Looking down at him contemptuously : 

If courage stands high in you, I, too, have 
some in my veins, for the blood of the same father 
enriches us both. 

Wu Hog Git 

Brandishing sword. 

Usurper! Think you to stop my way, when I 
have met the battling heavens ? When I have con- 
quered the peaks and held their snow-crowns until 
they melted before the warmth of my hand ? 

Places one foot on stool center. 

Descend before I cut you to earth, and toss your 
carcass from the beetling battlements. 

Steps back from throne. 

Descend, bow deeply and trade your place for 

mine. 

Wu Fah Din 

Seated on throne chair. 

If you will trade in gentleness, I will surrender 
gently. A throne is most uncomfortable. 

Rises, Descends throne to center. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 185 

Wu Hoo Git 
The sun-hued garment ! I demand it ! 

Wu Fah Din 

Goes to right of table. Pushes Yellow 
Jacket in handkerchief across table 
toward Wu Hoo Git, 

I extend to you the badge of office. I have 
always disliked the color, it is so cold. 

Wu Fah Din crosses to right center. Wu 
Hoo Git takes off his own jacket and 
hands it to property man, who puts it in 
box left. Wu Hoo Git then takes Yel- 
lozv Jacket out of handkerchief. Prop- 
erty man assists him to put it on, 

Wu Hoo Git 
Bump your head to me. 

Daffodil kneels right center. 

Wu Fah Din 
My head ! I am glad I have a head to bump. 

Bumps head twice. Wood block. 
May I still retain it? 



1 86 THE YELLOW JACKET 

.Wu Hoo Git 

My first act in assuming my power shall be one 
of mercy. Choose your prison. 

Wu Fah Din 

Looking up. 

A garden ! A garden filled with smiling flowers. 

Wu Hoo Git makes a gesture of assent. 
Daffodil rises. 

Then I retire to its fragrance. 

Backs up stage. Exits right. 

Wu Hoo Git 

Crosses to center, hack to audience. 

Victorious at last! I ascend the throne of my 
ancestors. 

Music. He mounts throne. Turns front 
standing. 

Wu Hoo Git 

I shake the slipper for my Plum Blossom. 

Shakes slipper. Cymbals crash. General 
entrance. 

My Plum Blossom! 

Music changes. Play piano. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 187 

MoY Fah Loy 

Crossing to him center on one foot. 

I guided them to you. 





Wu Hoo Git 






Have you 


brought your impressive body 


with 


you? 


MoY Fah Loy 






Yes. 


Wu Hoo Git 






Ascend m} 


r throne. 








She ascends. 


Sits on 


chair. 



Your slipper shall be my scepter. 

Puts it on her foot, standing right of table 
center. 

Moy Fah Loy 

My love ! 

Wu Hoo Git 

My Plum Blossom ! 

All kneel and how low. 



1 88 THE YELLOW JACKET 

Chee Moo 

In upper opening center. 

The world and wisdom are his. 

Music. 

Tableau Curtain 

Chorus comes out before tableau curtains. 

Chorus 

And now, most august and honorable neigh- 
bors, you may bestow your kindly recognition 
upon my brothers as I nominate them each in 
turn and they will personally augustly thank you. 

Tableau curtains are drawn. Company 
lined up across stage. Chorus now 
points out each member of the com- 
pany in turn, beginning zvith Chee Moo, 
then Wu Hoo Git, Plum Blossom, etc., 
indicating character first one side of the 
stage then the other, property man last. 

Chorus 

Chee Moo, the mother ! 
My hero! 

Indicating Wu Hoo Git 

My little heroine ! 

Indicating Plum Blossom. 



THE YELLOW JACKET 189 

The philosopher! 

Indicating Git Hok Gar. 
The nurse ! 

Indicating See Noi. 

The temptress of the flower boat! 

Indicating Chow Wan. 

The purveyor of hearts ! 

Indicating Yin Suey Gong. 
The daffodil! 

Indicating Wu Fah Din. 

The farmer and his wife! 

Indicating Lee Sin and Suey Sin Fah. 

The widow ! 

Indicating her. 

Tai Char Shoong! 

Indicating him. 

The second wife ! 

Indicating Due Jung Fah. 

A siren ! 

Indicating See Quoe Fah. 



I90 THE YELLOW JACKET 

And yet another siren ! 

Indicating Yong Soo Kow. 

And now quite visible to your eyes, our property 
man. 

Property man who has been seated on box 
lefty smoking, rises, crosses to Chorus 
center, shakes hands in the Chinese man- 
ner, bows to audience, crosses to right. 

Curtain 



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